A Bio-Inspired Flapping Wing Rotor of Variant Frequency Driven by Ultrasonic Motor
By combining the flapping and rotary motion, a bio-inspired flapping wing rotor (FWR) is a unique kinematics of motion. It can produce a significantly greater aerodynamic lift and efficiency than mimicking the insect wings in a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL). To produce the same lift, the FWR&...
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doaj-d0a0567674b24d6fa943f8c0f9c06a802020-11-25T01:38:34ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172020-01-0110141210.3390/app10010412app10010412A Bio-Inspired Flapping Wing Rotor of Variant Frequency Driven by Ultrasonic MotorSi Chen0Le Wang1Shijun Guo2Chunsheng Zhao3Mingbo Tong4College of Aerospace Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, ChinaCollege of Aerospace Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, ChinaSchool of Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing, Cranfield University, Cranfield MK43 0AL, UKCollege of Aerospace Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, ChinaCollege of Aerospace Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, ChinaBy combining the flapping and rotary motion, a bio-inspired flapping wing rotor (FWR) is a unique kinematics of motion. It can produce a significantly greater aerodynamic lift and efficiency than mimicking the insect wings in a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL). To produce the same lift, the FWR’s flapping frequency, twist angle, and self-propelling rotational speed is significantly smaller than the insect-like flapping wings and rotors. Like its opponents, however, the effect of variant flapping frequency (VFF) of a FWR, during a flapping cycle on its aerodynamic characteristics and efficiency, remains to be evaluated. A FWR model is built to carry out experimental work. To be able to vary the flapping frequency rapidly during a stroke, an ultrasonic motor (USM) is used to drive the FWR. Experiment and numerical simulation using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) are performed in a VFF range versus the usual constant flapping frequency (CFF) cases. The measured lifting forces agree very well with the CFD results. Flapping frequency in an up-stroke is smaller than a down-stroke, and the negative lift and inertia forces can be reduced significantly. The average lift of the FWR where the motion in VFF is greater than the CFF, in the same input motor power or equivalent flapping frequency. In other words, the required power for a VFF case to produce a specified lift is less than a CFF case. For this FWR model, the optimal installation angle of the wings for high lift and efficiency is found to be 30° and the Strouhal number of the VFF cases is between 0.3−0.36.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/10/1/412flapping wing rotorultrasonic motorvariable actuation frequency |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Si Chen Le Wang Shijun Guo Chunsheng Zhao Mingbo Tong |
spellingShingle |
Si Chen Le Wang Shijun Guo Chunsheng Zhao Mingbo Tong A Bio-Inspired Flapping Wing Rotor of Variant Frequency Driven by Ultrasonic Motor Applied Sciences flapping wing rotor ultrasonic motor variable actuation frequency |
author_facet |
Si Chen Le Wang Shijun Guo Chunsheng Zhao Mingbo Tong |
author_sort |
Si Chen |
title |
A Bio-Inspired Flapping Wing Rotor of Variant Frequency Driven by Ultrasonic Motor |
title_short |
A Bio-Inspired Flapping Wing Rotor of Variant Frequency Driven by Ultrasonic Motor |
title_full |
A Bio-Inspired Flapping Wing Rotor of Variant Frequency Driven by Ultrasonic Motor |
title_fullStr |
A Bio-Inspired Flapping Wing Rotor of Variant Frequency Driven by Ultrasonic Motor |
title_full_unstemmed |
A Bio-Inspired Flapping Wing Rotor of Variant Frequency Driven by Ultrasonic Motor |
title_sort |
bio-inspired flapping wing rotor of variant frequency driven by ultrasonic motor |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Applied Sciences |
issn |
2076-3417 |
publishDate |
2020-01-01 |
description |
By combining the flapping and rotary motion, a bio-inspired flapping wing rotor (FWR) is a unique kinematics of motion. It can produce a significantly greater aerodynamic lift and efficiency than mimicking the insect wings in a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL). To produce the same lift, the FWR’s flapping frequency, twist angle, and self-propelling rotational speed is significantly smaller than the insect-like flapping wings and rotors. Like its opponents, however, the effect of variant flapping frequency (VFF) of a FWR, during a flapping cycle on its aerodynamic characteristics and efficiency, remains to be evaluated. A FWR model is built to carry out experimental work. To be able to vary the flapping frequency rapidly during a stroke, an ultrasonic motor (USM) is used to drive the FWR. Experiment and numerical simulation using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) are performed in a VFF range versus the usual constant flapping frequency (CFF) cases. The measured lifting forces agree very well with the CFD results. Flapping frequency in an up-stroke is smaller than a down-stroke, and the negative lift and inertia forces can be reduced significantly. The average lift of the FWR where the motion in VFF is greater than the CFF, in the same input motor power or equivalent flapping frequency. In other words, the required power for a VFF case to produce a specified lift is less than a CFF case. For this FWR model, the optimal installation angle of the wings for high lift and efficiency is found to be 30° and the Strouhal number of the VFF cases is between 0.3−0.36. |
topic |
flapping wing rotor ultrasonic motor variable actuation frequency |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/10/1/412 |
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