Experimental Investigation on a Biomimetic Flapping Wing with Macro-Fiber Composites

摘要

A biomimetic flapping wing has been developed by using composite frames and macro-fiber composite(MFC)actuators.The flapping wing can change the camber by using the surface actuators,and produce flapping and twisting motions like birds.In order to evaluate the aerodynamic characteristics of the wing,low-speed wind tunnel tests are performed.The effects of camber,chord-wise wing flexibility and unsteady aerodynamics on the aerodynamic performance are investigated in this paper.In order to validate the wing flexibility effect and the unsteady effect,particle image velocimetry(PIV)tests are carried out.From the results,it is noted that the camber effect generated by the MFC produces sufficient aerodynamic benefit.It is further found that the chord-wise wing flexibility affects the aerodynamic characteristics in quasi-steady and unsteady flight regimes and that the unsteady aerodynamic effect is produced by a leading edge vortex on the wing.