The aerodynamic performance of flexible wing in plunge

Inspired by the fact that flexible wing in nature possesses advance aerodynamic performance, a numerical experiment is applied to investigate the aerodynamic performance of flexible wing in plunge motion, where the incompressible Navier-Stokes (N-S) equations coupled with the structural dynamic equation for the motion of the wing is solved. A two-dimensional, elastic and inextensible beam model wing is considered at Re = 1256. The harmonic plunge motion is specified at the leading edge of wing, and the other part of wing is responded passively deforming by the aerodynamic force. By analyzing the flow field, aerodynamic force and energy efficiency of different flexibility wings, it is found that the flexibility influences the aerodynamic characteristics of the plunge wing greatly and when the plunge frequency is less than the structural frequency the flexibility can increase the thrust force and the energy efficiency of the wing, and the maximum energy efficiency is obtained when the wing plunge near the resonance. Moreover, a lighter wing possesses larger energy efficiency than a heavier wing, but it may not be functioning for too light wing. The results obtained in this study will provide physical insight into the understanding of fluid and structure interaction problem.

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