Wings perform high-quality flight: insects

1 of 1 A Tau Emerald (Hemicordulia tau) dragonfly in flight / Fir0002 / License

Wings of insects of different size perform high-quality flight by producing different flow structures as they flap.

Biomimicry Taxonomy

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Biomimetic Application Ideas

Efficient rudders, wings, fans

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[Collapse all sections] Summary

"The elevated aerodynamic performance of insects has been attributed in part to the generation and maintenance of a stable region of vorticity known as the leading edge vortex (LEV). One explanation for the stability of the LEV is that spiraling axial flow within the vortex core drains energy into the tip vortex, forming a leading-edge spiral vortex analogous to the flow structure generated by delta wing aircraft...The results suggest that the transport of vorticity from the leading edge to the wake that permits prolonged vortex attachment takes different forms at different Re [Reynolds numbers - mostly affected by insect's size]." (Birch et al. 2004:1063)

About the inspiring organism

Insecta
Insecta

Organism/taxonomy data provided by:
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist

Bioinspired products and application ideas

Application Ideas: Efficient rudders, wings, fans.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Transportation

References

Birch JM; Dickson WB; Dickinson MH. 2004. Force production and flow structure of the leading edge vortex on flapping wings at high and low Reynolds numbers. The Journal of Experimental Biology. 207: 1063-1072.

Wings perform high-quality flight: insects

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