Aerodynamics of Low Reynolds Number Flyers
Low Reynolds number aerodynamics is important to a number of natural and man-made flyers. Birds, bats, and insects have been of interest to biologists for years, and active study in the aerospace engineering community, motivated by interest in micro air vehicles (MAVs), has been increasing rapidly. The primary focus of this book is the aerodynamics associated with fixed and flapping wings. The book consider both biological flyers and MAVs, including a summary of the scaling laws-which relate the aerodynamics and flight characteristics to a flyer's sizing on the basis of simple geometric and dynamics analyses, structural flexibility, laminar-turbulent transition, airfoil shapes, and unsteady flapping wing aerodynamics. The interplay between flapping kinematics and key dimensionless parameters such as the Reynolds number, Strouhal number, and reduced frequency is highlighted. The various unsteady lift enhancement mechanisms are also addressed, including leading-edge vortex, rapid pitch-up and rotational circulation, wake capture, and clap-and-fling.
- The focus of this book is on the aerodynamics associated with fixed and flapping wings
- The book considers both biological flyers and MAVs (Micro Air Vehicles), including a summary of the scaling laws
- The various unsteady lift enhancement mechanisms are also addressed, including leading-edge vortex, rapid pitch-up and rotational circulation, wake capture, and clap-and-fling
Reviews & endorsements
"The authors of this book, active pioneers of this new field, have assembled the first comprehensive treatment of the major new aerodynamic aspects pertaining to
MAVs...It is well written and illustrated with 29 color and 130 black and white figures. It also has a quite comprehensive reference list. Therefore, it should be of value to scientists and engineers who wish to familiarize themselves with the
aerodynamics of birds, insects, and micro air vehicles. In addition, students and anyone else who wishes to learn about the intricacies of aerodynamic lift and thrust
generation will bene!t from reading parts of this book."
Max F. Platzer, AIAA Journal
Product details
April 2011Paperback
9780521204019
212 pages
254 × 178 × 11 mm
0.38kg
Available
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Fixed, rigid wing aerodynamics
- 3. Flexible wing aerodynamics
- 4. Flapping wing aerodynamics.