Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rcrh6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-29T17:19:28.640Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Propulsion characteristics of flapping wings

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 July 2016

R. D. Archer ,
J. Sapuppo  and
D. S. Betteridge
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

In moving from the realm of stationary wing flight towards the complexity of flapping wing flight as evolved in birds, we wish to introduce the simplest means of flapping as a first step in an attempt to simplify as much as possible our wind tunnel model and also to confine our attention to the dominant thrust producing mechanism. Our model half wings flap only in the plane normal to flight. The flapping motion is sinusoidal with time and symmetrical about the mid position (Fig. 6). No wing bending was allowed. The wing section shape had no camber and also was rigid in shape but free to twist in torsion about its shear centre. However, the model root support was fixed and therefore could not simulate vertical plunging of a bird associated with ideal elliptic span loading (Ref. 1).

Type
Technical Notes
Information
The Aeronautical Journal , Volume 83 , Issue 825 , September 1979 , pp. 355 - 371
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 1979 

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. Betteridge, D. S. and Archer, R. D. A study of the mechanics of flapping wings. Aero Quarterly,May 1974.Google Scholar
2. Minkkinen, G. T., Wilson, T. A. and Beavers, G. S. An experiment on the lift of an accelerated airfoil. AIAA Journal, Vol 14, No 5, May 1976.Google Scholar
3. Schmitz, F. W. Aerodynamik des Flugmodells, Berlin, 1942.Google Scholar
4. Greenewalt, C. H. The flight of birds. Trans Am Phil Soc, Vol 65, pt 4, 1975.Google Scholar
5. Lighthill, Sir James. Aerodynamic aspects of animal flight. 5th Fluid Science Lecture, BHRA, 20th June 1974.Google Scholar
6. MacCready, Paul B. Flight on 0.33 horsepower: The Gossamer Condor. Published by author, President, Aero Vironment, Pasadena, Ca, 1978.Google Scholar
7. Pennycuick, C. J. Power requirements for horizontal flight in the pigeon. Journal Exp Biol, Vol 49, pp 527- 555, 1968.Google Scholar
8. Hartmann, Edwin P. and Biermann, David. The aerodynamic characteristics of full scale propellers. NACA Report 640, 1938.Google Scholar