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The separation vortex in the Weis-Fogh circulation-generation mechanism

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 April 2006

R. H. Edwards
Affiliation:
Department of Aerospace Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
H. K. Cheng
Affiliation:
Department of Aerospace Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles

Abstract

The influence of leading-edge separation vortices on the Weis-Fogh (1973) lift- generation mechanism for insect hovering is investigated. The analysis employs a vortex-shedding model (Edwards 1954; Cheng 1954) and represents an extension of Lighthill's (1973, 1975) analysis of an inviscid model without separated vortices. Results of the study compare reasonably well with observations on a laboratory model at high Reynolds number (Maxworthy 1979), confirming that vortex separation significantly enhances the initial circulation on each of the wings. Unlike the un- separated-model solution, this circulation was found to depend on the history of the wing motion and to increase with a large opening angle.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 1982 Cambridge University Press

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