The aerodynamic and structural study of flapping wing vehicles
type: CreativeWork
description: This thesis reports on the aerodynamic and structural study carried out on flapping wings and flapping vehicles. Theoretical and experimental investigation of aerodynamic forces acting on flapping wings in simple harmonic oscillations is undertaken in order to help conduct and optimize the aerodynamic and structural design of flapping wing vehicles. The research is focused on the large scale ornithopter design of similar size and configuration to a hang glider. By means of Theodorsen’s theory the aerodynamic forces on a thin aerofoil subject to heaving, pitching, and combined heaving and pitching motions are carefully studied. The analytical method is then employed to calculate the lift acting on the rigid flat plate undergoing small simple harmonic oscillations at different airspeeds and frequencies. The theoretical calculations are compared with experimental results which show reasonably good agreement. However experimental study shows that the wing frame deformation induces extra aerodynamic forces which can change the overall wing performance. Hence an experimental investigation focusing on wing flexibility effect on aerodynamic forces is also carried out. Three wings of similar planform geometry but slightly different degree of flexibility are manufactured for wind tunnel testing. Test results show that the wing deformation not only affects the aerodynamic forces but also the required power for various wing flapping motions. By understanding the aerodynamic performance of flapping wings from both theoretical and experimental studies the preliminary design of large scale ornithopter is carried out based on a hang glider prototype. Theoretical and experimental studies are carried out to validate aerodynamically the loading acting on the wing and finite element analysis is carried out to evaluate the structural strength. In addition, DeLaurier’s method is employed to calculate the aerodynamic forces of flapping wings by taking into account of the wing aspect ratio…
abstract: This thesis reports on the aerodynamic and structural study carried out on flapping wings and flapping vehicles. Theoretical and experimental investigation of aerodynamic forces acting on flapping wings in simple harmonic oscillations is undertaken in order to help conduct and optimize the aerodynamic and structural design of flapping wing vehicles. The research is focused on the large scale ornithopter design of similar size and configuration to a hang glider. By means of Theodorsen’s theory the aerodynamic forces on a thin aerofoil subject to heaving, pitching, and combined heaving and pitching motions are carefully studied. The analytical method is then employed to calculate the lift acting on the rigid flat plate undergoing small simple harmonic oscillations at different airspeeds and frequencies. The theoretical calculations are compared with experimental results which show reasonably good agreement. However experimental study shows that the wing frame deformation induces extra aerodynamic forces which can change the overall wing performance. Hence an experimental investigation focusing on wing flexibility effect on aerodynamic forces is also carried out. Three wings of similar planform geometry but slightly different degree of flexibility are manufactured for wind tunnel testing. Test results show that the wing deformation not only affects the aerodynamic forces but also the required power for various wing flapping motions. By understanding the aerodynamic performance of flapping wings from both theoretical and experimental studies the preliminary design of large scale ornithopter is carried out based on a hang glider prototype. Theoretical and experimental studies are carried out to validate aerodynamically the loading acting on the wing and finite element analysis is carried out to evaluate the structural strength. In addition, DeLaurier’s method is employed to calculate the aerodynamic forces of flapping wings by taking into account of the wing aspect ratio…
author: Zhou, Liangchen
keywords: TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
date published: 2013
date modified: 2026-07-24T01:38:58Z
provider: City University of London
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: City University London