NUMERICAL ANALYSIS OF THE UNSTEADY FORCE IN INSECT FORWARD FLIGHT

The objective of this study is to get into physical insights to the unsteady force and the relevant mechanisms in forward flight of insects. Unsteady force in the forward flight was studied, based on a virtual model problem of a foil with oscillating translation and rotation in a uniform flow, by solving the two-dimensional incompressible Navier-Stokes equations with a finite element method. The effects of typical parameters, including the advance ratio, the inclined angle of stroke plane, the stroke amplitude, and the amplitude of pitching angle of attack, on the forces and the flow structures were analyzed.