Biophysics of Insect Flight (N. Chari, Prasad Mukkavilli etc.)

Chapter 3

Aerodynamic Considerations

Prasad Mukkavilli, N. Chari, A. Shubhananda Rao, and A. G. Sarwade

Abstract The different aspects of insect ﬂight and aerodynamics covered in this

chapter can brieﬂy be summarized as below. Insects are the ﬁrst class of inverte-

brates which differ phylogenetically, morphologically and structurally from verte-

brate ﬂiers. Wings of birds, bats and insects are structurally analogous and the aero-

dynamic forces developed by them are in a homologous fashion. Insect ﬂy at low

Re ranging from 1 to 10,000, where viscous and boundary layer separations are

predominant. Various lift generating mechanisms include Wake capture, Passive

pitch, Tip vortex formation, Rapid pitching rotation, Clap and ﬂing mechanism and

LEV helping in delayed stall. The stalling angle (AOA) for an aeroplane is limited to

16–20°. However, for a ﬂying insect, prestall period extends from 45 to 75° and stall

may occur at 90°. Sensory feedback is very well developed in the insects. In Neuro-

genic ﬂiers the frequency is variable from 2–100 and in myogenic it varies from 100

to 1000. Elastomere resilin is well developed and plays a key role in insect ﬂight. The

actuatordisc concept helps in calculating hovering frequency even in Biomimicking

MAVs.

Keywords Lift devices · Lift and drag coefﬁcients · LEV and delayed stall ·

Actuator disc · AOA · Circulatory ﬂowα

Introduction

Aerodynamics is a branch of science of Fluid Mechanics and Aeronautics which

relates to all activities pertaining to aerial locomotion. Aerodynamics, in simple

words, is deﬁned as “the science which deals with the study of motion of air around

P. Mukkavilli (B) · A. S. Rao

SNIST, Hyderabad, India

N. Chari

Kakatiya University, Warangal, India

A. G. Sarwade

MRCET, Hyderabad, India

DRDL, Hyderabad, India

N. Chari et al. (eds.), Biophysics of Insect Flight, Springer Series in Biophysics 22,

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-5184-7_3