Open Access2D numerical investigations derived from a 3D dragonfly wing captured with a high-resolution micro-CT
Author(s) -
Vera Stelzer,
Lars Krenkel
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
technology and health care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.281
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1878-7401
pISSN - 0928-7329
DOI - 10.3233/thc-219010
Subject(s) - wing , airfoil , chord (peer to peer) , angle of attack , wing twist , lift to drag ratio , wing configuration , aerodynamics , lift (data mining) , lift induced drag , drag , dragonfly , vortex , physics , lift coefficient , geology , geometry , structural engineering , mechanics , mathematics , computer science , engineering , reynolds number , turbulence , odonata , paleontology , distributed computing , data mining
BACKGROUND: Due to their corrugated profile, dragonfly wings have special aerodynamic characteristics during flying and gliding. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to create a realistic 3D model of a dragonfly wing captured with a high-resolution micro-CT. To represent geometry changes in span and chord length and their aerodynamic effects, numerical investigations are carried out at different wing positions. METHODS: The forewing of a Camacinia gigantea was captured using a micro-CT. After the wing was adapted an error-free 3D model resulted. The wing was cut every 5 mm and 2D numerical analyses were conducted in Fluent® 2020 R2 (ANSYS, Inc., Canonsburg, PA, USA). RESULTS: The highest lift coefficient, as well as the highest lift-to-drag ratio, resulted at 0 mm and an angle of attack (AOA) of 5∘. At AOAs of 10∘ or 15∘, the flow around the wing stalled and a Kármán vortex street behind the wing becomes visible. CONCLUSIONS: The velocity is higher on the upper side of the wing compared to the lower side. The pressure acts vice versa. Due to the recirculation zones that are formed in valleys of the corrugation pattern the wing resembles the form of an airfoil.