Study of Dynamic Interaction Between Low Re Aerodynamic Load and Flexible-Biomimetic Wings with Tailorable Stiffness by FSI Modeling

TL;DR

This study models the dynamic interaction of flexible, bio-inspired wings with tailorable stiffness under low Reynolds aerodynamic loads using FSI simulations, revealing potential engineering applications of bio-inspired wing designs.

Contribution

It develops a novel FSI modeling approach incorporating bio-inspired segmented wing structures with non-uniform material properties for low Reynolds number aerodynamics.

Findings

Bio-inspired wing segmentation affects aerodynamic response.

Flexible trailing edges influence lift and stability.

Validation confirms model's applicability to low Reynolds flows.

Abstract

In the present work, we investigate dynamic interaction and response of flexible bio-inspired morphing wing structure to a low Reynolds aerodynamic load. The aspects of inspiration are as follows. First, the segmentation of the wing into rigid and flexible segments. Considering a leading edge constitution of bone and muscle. In addition to a flexible trailing edge composed of feathers. Second, the material properties provided by experimental biology in literature are adopted such as the bending stiffness and Young's modulus. The development of numerical models allowing non uniform distribution of properties are developed and implemented into an OpenFoam finite volume solver that couples fluid dynamics to a structural solid dynamics solver through the FSI interface. In the course of this work, the validation is performed for a NACA6409 airfoil considering a rigid segment of 40\% and flexible segment 60\% chord length in order to test the aero-structure behavior for an aerodynamic load of air flow at low Reynolds number of $\boldsymbol{5\times 10^5}$ for the fluid and feather inspired material properties. The results suggest that bio-inspired techniques can be reproduced in engineering configurations.