3D Flapping Wing Simulation with High Order Spectral Difference Method on Deformable Mesh

In this paper we carry out computational studies of three-dimensional flow over flapping wings. The problems we have investigated include, firstly, three-dimensonal simulation of flow over an extruded SD7003 airfoil in plunging motion at transitional Reynolds number and, secondly, flow over a pair of flapping rectangle wings with constant NACA0012 cross-sectional airfoil profile at low Reynolds number. The three-dimensional flapping wing simulations are performed using high-order spectral difference method at low Mach number. The high-order method allows a very coarse starting mesh to be used. By using high order solution, fine flow features in the vortex-dominated flow field are effectively captured. For the plunging SD7003 airfoil, we examine the laminar to turbulence flow transitional behavior at Re 40,000. For the NACA0012 rectangular wing, we analyze and compare the flow fields and aerodynamic efficiencies of several flapping wing motions at Re 2000. The flapping motions considered include wing plunging, twisting and pitching. Some of the flapping wing motions are accommodated through dynamic mesh deformation.