Experimental Investigation on Aerodynamics Loads of an Entomopter in Forward Flight - Water Tunnel Tests

摘要

The article is close connected with design process of flying object, that fly like an insect (entomopter). Present work concerns on experimental investigations conducted on flapping wing mechanism in water tunnel. The object is dipterous. Each wing can perform various spherical motions (wing is rotated around point). There are two main aims of this work. First, is to find maximal cruise flight speed and the way, how the lift force is changing due to this speed. Second, is to build aerodynamic model of this object based on experimental data. It will be useful for static and dynamic analysis of stability and maneuverability. The experiment relay on measurements of hydrodynamic forces generated by object. The motion of the wing in this case was two-dimensional, it was rotated around two axis. Forward velocity, angle of inclination of flapping plane and flapping frequency were parameters of the experiment. Tests were performed for various pitch angle trajectories. First part of paper describe used laboratory equipment and measuring system. It include also description of methodology of performed experiment, kinematics of wing motion and parameters of experiment. In second part the results and analysis methodology are shown. Last part contains example of usage achieved data in stability analysis.