Title: One-way FSI analysis of bio-inspired flapping wings

Authors: Mürvet Bektaş; Mehmet Ali Güler; Dilek Funda Kurtuluş

Addresses: Mechanical Engineering Department, TOBB University of Economics and Technology, Ankara 06560, Turkey ' College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East, Kuwait; Mechanical Engineering Department, TOBB University of Economics and Technology, Ankara 06560, Turkey ' Aerospace Engineering Department, Middle East Technical University, Ankara 06800, Turkey

Abstract: Aerodynamics and structural dynamics of the insect wings are widely considered in flapping wing micro air vehicle (FWMAV) applications. In this paper, the aerodynamic characteristics of the three-dimensional flapping wing models mimicked from the bumblebee and hawkmoth wings are numerically investigated under steady flow conditions. This study aims to simulate the one-way fluid-structure interaction (FSI) of these bio-inspired wings by transferring the aerodynamic load obtained from the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) into the finite element method (FEM) solver as a pressure load. The static aeroelastic responses of the wings under the pressure load are compared for different materials, namely, cuticle, aluminium alloy, and titanium alloy at various angles of attack (α = 0°-90°). CFD analysis shows that the hawkmoth wing model at α = 5° has the highest lift-to-drag ratio (L/D). FSI analysis demonstrates that the cuticle hawkmoth wing model at α = 90° undergoes the highest tip deflection.

Keywords: FWMAV; bumblebee wing; hawkmoth wing; wing aerodynamics; computational fluid dynamics; CFD; wing deformation; finite element method; FEM; one-way FSI; static aeroelasticity.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSA.2020.112163

International Journal of Sustainable Aviation, 2020 Vol.6 No.3, pp.172 - 194

Received: 21 Mar 2020
Accepted: 03 Sep 2020
Published online: 04 Jan 2021 *

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