A team of scientists at Hiroshima University conducted a research study on dragonfly wings to gain a deeper understanding of the connection between a corrugated wing structure and vortex motions. Their findings revealed that corrugated wings have a greater lift capacity compared to flat wings.
The researchers aimed to uncover whether the corrugation of a dragonfly’s wing holds the key to enhancing lift. While previous studies have focused on the steady flow around the wing during forward motion, the influence of vortices generated by its corrugated structure on lift has remained a puzzle.
The wing surfaces of insects such as dragonflies, cicadas, and bees differ from the wings of a passenger plane as they are composed of nerves and membranes, with cross-section shapes consisting of vertices (nerves) and line segments (membranes). The geometry of the shape appears as a connection of objects with a V-shape or other shapes.
Prior research has demonstrated that corrugated wings, with their ridges and grooves, exhibit superior aerodynamic performance compared to smooth wings at low Reynolds numbers, which is a quantity used to predict fluid flow patterns in aerodynamics.
Previous aerodynamic studies on corrugated wings have led to advancements in small flying robots, drones, and windmills. The aerodynamic advantages provided by corrugated wings to insects, which possess low muscular strength, have not been fully understood due to the complex wing structure and flow characteristics.
2024-01-27 22:00:05
Article from phys.org