AHPCRC Projects
| Project 1-4: Flapping and Twisting Aeroelastic Wings for Propulsion Principal Investigators: MingjunWei and Banavara Shashikanth (New Mexico State University), Charbel Farhat (Stanford University) |
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| Flapping propulsion efficiency at various amplitudes. | Mechanical micro-aerial vehicle (MAV) model | |
| Graphics this page courtesy Mingjun Wei (New Mexico State University). | ||
Birds and insects use complex flapping and twisting wing motions to maneuver, hover, avoid obstacles, and maintain or regain their equilibrium in shifting and unpredictable wind currents. Flocks of birds travel in formation and insects form unstructured swarms using rudimentary communications. Parameterizing and simulating bird and insect behaviors will be instrumental in developing small, lightweight, sturdy unmanned aerial vehicles for use in sensing, surveillance, and wireless communications. HPC simulations examine plunging, pitching, and twisting motions of aeroelastic wings, to optimize the amplitudes and frequencies of flapping and twisting motions for the maximum amount of thrust. Several methods of calculation are being adapted, extended, and validated for this purpose. Mechanical hummingbird wing models are used for particle image velocimetry measurements and flow visualization to provide real-world foundations for the HPC simulations. |
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