Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-j824f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-19T13:20:44.880Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Experimental and numerical study of the flight of geese

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 January 2016

G. Dimitriadis ,
J. D. Gardiner ,
P. G. Tickle ,
J. Codd  and
R. L. Nudds
G. Dimitriadis*
Affiliation:
Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Liège, Liege, Belgium
J. D. Gardiner
Affiliation:
Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Liège, Liege, Belgium
P. G. Tickle
Affiliation:
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
J. Codd
Affiliation:
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
R. L. Nudds
Affiliation:
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
*
[email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The flight of barnacle geese at airspeeds representing high-speed migrating flight is investigated using experiments and simulations. The experimental part of the work involved the filming of three barnacle geese (Branta Leucopsis) flying at different airspeeds in a wind tunnel. The video footage was analysed in order to extract the wing kinematics. Additional information, such as wing geometry and camber was obtained from a 3D scan of a dried wing. An unsteady vortex lattice method was used to simulate the aerodynamics of the measured flapping motion. The simulations were used in order to successfully reproduce the measured body motion and thus obtain estimates of the aerodynamic forces acting on the wings. It was found that the mean of the wing pitch angle variation with time has the most significant effect on lift while the difference in the durations of the upstroke and downstroke has the major effect on thrust. The power consumed by the aerodynamic forces was also estimated; it was found that increases in aerodynamic power correspond very closely to climbing motion and vice versa. Root-mean-square values of the power range from 100W to 240W. Finally, it was observed that tandem flying can be very expensive for the trailing bird.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Aeronautical Journal , Volume 119 , Issue 1217 , July 2015 , pp. 803 - 832
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 2015

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Jones, K.D., Dohring, C.M. and Platzer, M.F.Experimental and computational investigation of the Knoller-Betz effect, AIAA J, 1998, 36, (7), pp 1240–1246.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2.Hall, K.C., Pigott, S.A. and Hall, S.R.Power requirements for large-amplitude flapping flight, J Aircr, 1998, 35, (3), pp 352–361.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3.Shyy, W., Berg, M. and Ljungqvist, D.Flapping and flexible wings for biological and micro air vehicles, Prog in Aerospace Sci, 1999, 35, (5), pp 455–505.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4.Mueller, T.J. (Ed). Fixed and flapping wing aerodynamics for micro air vehicle applications, Prog in Astronautics and Aeronautics, 2001, Vol 195, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.Google Scholar
5.Stanford, B.K. and Beran, P.S.Analytical sensitivity analysis of an unsteadyvortex-lattice method for flapping-wing optimization, J Aircr, 2010, 47, (2), pp 647–662.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6.Politis, G. and Politis, K.Biomimetic propulsion under random heaving conditions, using active pitch control, J Fluids and Structures, 2014, 47, pp 139–149.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7.Sarkar, S. and Venkatraman, K.Unsteady aerodynamics of a flapping airfoil, 2010, Lambert Academic Publishing.Google Scholar
8.Chimakurthi, S.K., Tang, J., Palacios, R., Cesnik, C.E.S. and Shyy, W.Computational aeroelasticity framework for analyzing flapping wing micro air vehicles, AIAA J, 2009, 47, (8), pp 1865–1878.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9.Gopalakrishnan, P. and Tafti, D.K.Numerical study of fexible flapping wing propulsion, AIAA J, 2010, 48, (5), pp 865–877.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
10.Yang, T., Wei, M. and Zhao, H.Numerical study of flexible flapping wing propulsion, AIAA J, 2010, 48, (12), pp 2909–2915.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11.Gordnier, R.E., Chimakurthi, S.K., Cesnik, C.E.S. and Attar, P.J.High fidelity aeroelastic computations of a flapping wing with spanwise flexibility, J Fluids and Structures, 2013, 40, pp 86–104.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
12.Yu, M., Wang, Z.J. and Hu, H.High fidelity numerical simulation of airfoil thickness and kinematics effects on flapping airfoil propulsion, J Fluids and Structures, 2013, 42, pp 166–186.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
13.Visbal, M., Yilmaz, T.O. and Rockwell, D.Three-dimensional vortex formation on a heaving low-aspect-ratio wing:computations and experiments, J Fluids and Structures, 2013, 38, pp 58–76.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
14.Hubel, T.Y. and Tropea, C.Experimental investigation of a flapping wing model, Experiments in Fluids, December 2008, 46, (5), pp 945–961.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
15.Mazaheri, K. and Ebrahimi, A.Experimental investigation on aerodynamic performance of a flapping wing vehicle in forward flight, J Fluids and Structures, 2011, 27, pp 586–595.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
16.Shkarayev, S. and Silin, D.Measurements of aerodynamic coefficients for flapping wings at 0-90 angles of attack, AIAA J, 2012, 50, (10), pp 2034–2042.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
17.Malhan, R., Benedict, M. and Chopra, I.Experimental studies to understand the hover and forward flight performance of a mav-scale flapping wing concept, J American Helicopter Soc, 2012, 52, (7), 022002–1 – 022002–11.Google Scholar
18.Prangemeier, T., Rival, D. and Tropea, C.The manipulation of trailing-edge vortices for an airfoil in plunging motion, J Fluids and Structures, 2010, 26, pp 193–204.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
19.Kang, C., Aono, H., Baik, Y.S., Bernal, L.P. and Shyy, W.Fluid dynamics of pitching and plunging fat plate at intermediate Reynolds numbers, AIAA J, 2013, 51, (2), pp 315–329.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
20.Razak, N.A. and Dimitriadis, G. Experimental study of wings undergoing active root flapping and pitching, J Fluids and Structures, 2014.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
21.Grauer, J., Ulrich, E., Hubbard, J., Pines, D. and Humbert, J.S.Testing and system identification of an ornithopter in longitudinal flight, J Aircr, 2011, 48, (2), pp 660–667.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
22.Rozhdestvensky, K.V. and Ryzhov, V.A.Aerohydrodynamics of flapping-wing propulsors, Prog in Aerospace Sci, 2003, 39, pp 585–633.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
23.Mueller, T.J. and Delaurier, J.D.Aerodynamics of small vehicles, Annual Rev Fluid Mech, 2003, 35, pp 89–111.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
24.Hoa, S., Nassefa, H., Pornsinsirirak, N., Taib, Y.C. and Hoa, C.M.Unsteady aerodynamics and fow control for flapping wing flyers, Prog in Aerospace Sci, 2003, 39, (8), pp 635–681.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
25.Shyy, W., Arno, H., Chimakurthi, S.K., Trizila, P., Kang, C.K., Cesnik, C.E.S. and Liu, H.Recent progress in flapping wing aerodynamics and aeroelasticity, Prog in Aerospace Sci, 2010, 46, (7), pp 284–327.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
26.Young, J., Lai, J.C.S. and platzer, M.F.A review of progress and challenges in flapping foil power generation, 2014, Prog in Aerospace Sci, 67, pp 2–28.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
27.Ellington, C.P.Novel aerodynamics of insect flight: Application to micro air vehicle, J Experimental Biology, 1999, 202, (23), pp 3439–3448.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
28.Ansari, S.A., Zbikowski, R. and Knoewles, K.Aerodynamic modelling of insect like flapping flight for micro air vehicles, Prog in Aerospace Sci, 2006, 42, (2), pp 129–172.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
29.Winter, D.A.Biomechanics and Motor Control of Human Movement, 1990, Wiley Interscience.Google Scholar
30.Berkooz, G., Holmes, P. and Lumley, J.L.The proper orthogonal decomposition in the analysis of turbulent flows, Annual Review of Fluid Mech, 1993, 25, pp 539–575.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
31.Abbott, I.H. and Von Doenhoff, A.E.Theory of Wing Sections: Including a Summary of Airfoil Data, 1959, Dover, New York, USA.Google Scholar
32.Katz, J. and Plotkin, A.Low Speed Aerodynamics, 2001, Cambridge University Press, UK.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
33.Murua, J., Palacios, R. and Graham, J.M.R.Applications of the unsteady vortex-lattice method in aircraft aeroelasticity and flight dynamics, 2012, Prog in Aerospace Sci, 55, pp 46–72.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
34.Razak, N.A. and Dimitriadis, G.Experiments on a 3-D flapping and pitching mechanical model, June 2009, 2009 International Forum on Aeroelasticity and Structural Dynamics, IFASD 2009-124, Seattle, WA, USA.Google Scholar
35.Razak, N.A.Experimental Investigation of the Aerodynamics and Aeroelasticity of Flapping, Plunging and Pitching Wings, PhD thesis, 2012, University of Liège, Belgium.Google Scholar
36.Prasad, C.S. and Dimitriadis, G.Aerodynamic modeling of horizontal axis wind turbines, July 2011, 13th International Conference on Wind Engineering, ICWE13-148, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.Google Scholar
37.Prasad, C.S. and Dimitriadis, G.Double wake vortex lattice modeling of horizontal axis wind turbines, June 2011, 15th International Forum on Aeroelasticity and Structural Dynamics, IFASD2011-180, Paris, France.Google Scholar
38.Simpson, R.J.S. and Palacios, R.Induced-drag calculations in the unsteady vortex lattice method, AIAA J, 2013, 51, (7), pp 1775–1779.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
39.Portugal, S.J.Green, J.A. and Butler, P.J.Annual changes in body mass and resting metabolism in captive barnacle geese (branta leucopsis): the importance of wing moult, J Experimental Biology, 2007, 210, (8), pp 1391–1397.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
40.Pennycuick, C.J., Obrecht, H.H. and Fuller, M.R.Empirical estimates of body drag of large waterfowl and raptors, J Experimental Biology, 1988, 135, pp 253–264.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
41.Pennycuick, C.J., Klaassen, M., Kvist, A. and Lindstroöm, Å.Wingbeat frequency and the body drag anomaly: wind-tunnel observations on a thrush nightingale (luscinia luscinia) and a teal (anas crecca), J Experimental Biology, 1996, 199, pp 2757–2765.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
42.Spedding, G.R., Rayner, J.M.V. and Pennycuick, C.J.Momentum and energy in the wake of a pigeon (columba livia) in slow flight, J of Experimental Biology, 1984, 111, pp 81–102.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
43.Spedding, G.R.The wake of a kestrel in flapping flight, J Experimental Biology, 1987, 127, (1), pp 59–78.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
44.Harmon, R.L.Aerodynamic Modeling of a Flapping Membrane Wing Using Motion Tracking Experiments, Master’s thesis 2008, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.Google Scholar