Influence of wing flexibility on the aerodynamic performance of a tethered flapping bumblebee

• 作者: Dmitry Kolomenskiy Hung Truong Kai Schneider Thomas Engels
• 来源期刊: 力学快报（英文）
• 年，卷（期）: 2020,（6）
• 所属期刊栏目: Biomechanics and Interdiscipline
• 页码范围: 382-389
• 页数: 8页
• 语种: 英文

摘要

The sophisticated structures of flapping insect wings make it challenging to study the role of wing flexibility in insect flight. In this study, a mass-spring system is used to model wing structural dynamics as a thin, flexible membrane supported by a network of veins. The vein mechanical properties can be estimated based on their diameters and the Young's modulus of cuticle. In order to analyze the effect of wing flexibility, the Young's modulus is varied to make a comparison between two different wing models that we refer to as flexible and highly flexible. The wing models are coupled with a pseudo-spectral code solving the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations, allowing us to investigate the influence of wing deformation on the aerodynamic efficiency of a tethered flapping bumblebee. Compared to the bumblebee model with rigid wings, the one with flexible wings flies more efficiently, characterized by a larger lift-to-power ratio.