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Experiments on the Weis-Fogh mechanism of lift generation by insects in hovering flight. Part 1. Dynamics of the ‘fling’

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 April 2006

T. Maxworthy
T. Maxworthy
Affiliation:
Departments of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90007
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Abstract

From a series of experiments using simplified mechanical models we suggest certain minor modifications to the Weis-Fogh (1973)–Lighthill (1973) explanation of the so-called ‘clap and fling’ mechanism for the generation of large lift coefficients by insects in hovering flight. Of particular importance is the production and motion of a leading edge, separation vortex that accounts for virtually all of the circulation generated during the initial phase of the ‘fling’ process. The magnitude of this circulation is substantially larger than that calculated using inviscid theory. During the motion that subsequently separates the wings, the vorticity over each of them is convected and combined to become a tip vortex of uniform circulation spanning the space between them. This combined vortex moves downwards as a part of a ring, of large impulse, that is then continuously fed from quasi-steady separation bubbles that move with the wings as they continue to open at a large angle of attack. Such effects are able to account for the large lift forces generated by the insect.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 93 , Issue 1 , 12 July 1979 , pp. 47 - 63
Copyright
© 1979 Cambridge University Press

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