The flow structure generated by a flapping wing in the form of a plate is fundamentally altered if the leading-edge has a sinusoidal shape. It is possible to attenuate both the positive and negative spanwise flows along the plate surface, as well as the onset and development of large-scale concentrations of positive and negative streamwise vorticities at inboard locations. These alterations of the inboard flow structure have an insignificant influence on the structure of the tip vortex.
展开▼
