LEADING EDGE VORTICES IN INSECT FLIGHT

Introduction

Vortices that are formed on the leading edge of a flapping insect wing. Structure, evolution, stability and decay of such vortices. Why do we need to study them? Of what consequence is insect flight to us?

Micro Air Vehicles

Flight goes small, really small

Unconventional methods

We have now a need for Micro Air Vehicles (MAVs), that have a wing span of less than 15cm and weigh less than 80g. Conventional fixed wing configurations are just not efficient enough at the low Re that these MAVs operate at. We need to look elsewhere. Flapping Wings that we see in creatures of all sizes!

Biological Inspirations
The best biological analogs for MAVs- Insects

Insect Flight-An Overview

Insects are capable of unique flight patterns. Sustained hovering, slow flight and precise maneuvering. Complicated unsteady, three dimensional flow patterns. Difficult to analyze with the conventional laws of aerodynamics. They dont have streamlined wings. They have very high angles of attack, much higher than threshold values for stall.
Source: [2]

What lets them fly?

The source of lift in insects has now been identified as the Leading Edge Vortex(LEV). The high angles of attack causes flow separation at the leading edge of the wing and generates a vortex.

This vortex creates the low pressure at the top of the wing that generates the lift.
How stable is this vortex? How does it evolve? What is the mechanism that supports it?

Coen Van Den Berg And Charles. P. Ellington (1997)

The Three Dimensional Leading Edge Vortex of a Hovering model Hawkmoth

Objectives

A 3-D flow visualization experiment using a scaled up model of the hawkmoth wing- The Flapper. Examined the LEV, its generation, evolution and decay. Examined the presence of an axial flow of the vortex, that caused it to be spiral in shape with an intrinsic helix angle.

Source: [1]

The Flapper
Scaling factor 9.6
Forewing and hind wing that can twist independently.

Four degrees of freedomPositional angle , Elevation angle ,

Image source: The three-dimensional leading-edge vortex of a `hovering' model hawkmoth, Coen Van Den Berg and Charles P. Ellington, Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B (1997) 352, 329340.

Angle of attack of the leading

section le, and angle of attack of the trailing section t.
Source: [1]

The experiment

Smoke (vaporized oil) is released from a smoke rake built into the leading edge of the wing. Flow cross sections were recorded at four positional angles = (50, 30, 0 and -36) o. For each angle, five span wise positions along the wing were monitored: 0.25R, 0.50R, 0.63R, 0.75R and 0.87R.

Source: [1]

Pictorial Representation of Flapper Action

Image source: The three-dimensional leading-edge vortex of a `hovering' model hawkmoth, Coen Van Den Berg and Charles P. Ellington, Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B (1997) 352, 329340.

Vortex size and position parameters

Results
At different positional angles and different spanwise positions along the wing

General Observations

A clear LEV is seen with a strong axial flow component. During the first half of the stroke, ie., between =510 and =00, the LEV was quite stable over the major portion of the wingspan. The LEV grew unstable near the tip of the wing where it meets a large tip vortex. A similar smaller LEV is present during the upstroke as well. No LEV observed at =50o
Source: [1]

Image source: The three-dimensional leading-edge vortex of a `hovering' model hawkmoth, Coen Van Den Berg and Charles P. Ellington, Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B (1997) 352, 329340.

At

o =30

Image source: The three-dimensional leading-edge vortex of a `hovering' model hawkmoth, Coen Van Den Berg and Charles P. Ellington, Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B (1997) 352, 329340.

Clear LEV present with axial flow component from base to tip.
LEV moved away from the wing surface and chord wise back.

Height of vortex increased from 1 cm at 0.5R to 3.5cm at 0.63R.

Vortex was oval at 0.25R (w/h=1.4) and became circular (w/h=1) as it moved towards the tip.
Source: [1]

At

o =0

Image source: The three-dimensional leading-edge vortex of a `hovering' model hawkmoth, Coen Van Den Berg and Charles P. Ellington, Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B (1997) 352, 329340.

The LEV had grown considerably by this time.

At 0.25R its size was 1.5cm and at 0.75R it had grown to 7 cm.
The shape of the LEV again showed the same progression from oval to circular.

Between 0.25R and 0.63R, the LEV remained close to the surface.
Separation started at that point and at 0.75R and 0.87R, the vortex moved away

rapidly.

Source: [1]

At

o =-36

Image source: The three-dimensional leading-edge vortex of a `hovering' model hawkmoth, Coen Van Den Berg and Charles P. Ellington, Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B (1997) 352, 329340.

Compared to the LEV at =0o, the vortex height had decreased by 10-20% between 0.25R and 0.63R. The same change in shape from oval to circular was also visible. At 0.75R, the LEV had separated and moved towards the trailing edge and a new vortex had formed close to the leading edge. Source: [1]

Axial Flow Velocity

Flow of the LEV from wing base to wing tip provides stability

Axial flow velocity(Va) variation

Mean value of Va= 31.8 cms-1 Large span-wise variation. Increased evenly from 0.25R (21.9 cms-1) to 0.50R (44.2 cms-1). Pretty much the same between 0.50R and R with a slight decrease related to vortex breakdown and separation.

Source: [1]

Significance of Axial Flow

Axial flow adds an extra flow characteristic that stabilizes the LEV. Delays the separation of the LEV due to the influence of the flow surrounding the wing. First time that the axial velocity was detected as this was the first 3D experiment. Compare to Maxworthy(1979), Spedding and Maxworthy(1986).
Source: [1]

Circulation and Lift

How much lift does the LEV produce?

Circulation of the LEV(C)

C=.d.V d is the average of the vortex height and width. As helix angle is 45o, we have Va=|V|. Hence Circulation is calculated for different spanwise positions.

Source: [1]

Variation of Circulation

Quadrupled between 0.25R and 0.50R Remained constant or decreased further down, owing to vortex separation. Increased at all span wise positions from =30o to 0o. At =-36o, the circulation collapsed at 0.75R owing to vortex separation.

Source: [1]

Circulation Vs. Spanwise Position

Image source: The three-dimensional leading-edge vortex of a `hovering' model hawkmoth, Coen Van Den Berg and Charles P. Ellington, Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B (1997) 352, 329340.

Lift

Sectional lift per unit span calculated using the value for circulation of LEV, C, gives the lift contribution of the LEV. Lift increased by a factor of eight from 0.25R to 0.50R and then stabilized. Lift similar from =0o to =30o. Lift much reduced at =-36o.

Source: [1]

Span-wise variation of Lift

Image source: The three-dimensional leading-edge vortex of a `hovering' model hawkmoth, Coen Van Den Berg and Charles P. Ellington, Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B (1997) 352, 329340.

Contribution of LEV lift

Oriented perpendicular to the wing surface. Provides two-thirds of the lift required to lift the hawkmoth. This is only the lower limit of the lift! Added to this, there will be boundary layer circulation that provides the rest of the lift required to make the insect hover.

Source: [1]

Mechanism of LEV Production

Rotational lift mechanisms or Dynamic Stall?

Mechanism of LEV Production

Rotational Lift Mechanism

Dynamic Stall

LEV generated during pronation and recaptured at the start of the downstroke. Circulation of vortex will be pre established at the start of the downstroke. Circulation at any spanwise position is proportional to the square of local chord at that point.

LEV generated during downstroke itself. Circulation will start to grow at the beginning of the downstroke. Circulation is proportional to the product of the distance from the wing base and the local chord at the point.

Source: [1]

Conclusion

LEV provides two thirds of the required lift for the hawkmoth. LEV stability is considerably improved by the axial flow component. Even a marginal increase in LEV stability should greatly augment the lift coefficient. An effective strategy for man made MAVs can be to increase LEV stability by increasing this axial flow component by utilizing span-wise blowing or suction.

References
1.

The three-dimensional leading-edge vortex of a `hovering' model hawkmoth, Coen Van Den Berg and Charles P. Ellington, Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B (1997) 352, 329340.

2.

Fixed and flapping wing aerodynamics for micro air vehicle applications, Progress in Astronautics and Aeronautics, Volume 195, Edited by Thomas J.Mueller
Title slide image source: http://www.moorhen.me.uk/iodsubject/moths_02.htm: 20080616_d30_20010624_0943_696 elephant hawk-moth in flight with honeysuckle (web crop)(r+mbid@576).jpg Slide 9 image source: www.wikipedia.org-Manduca sexta adult female taken by Shawn Hanrahan at the Texas A&M University Insect Collection in College Station, Texas.

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Slide 10 image source: http://www.redorbit.com/images/pic/29827/hawk-moth-manduca-sexta-image-1/