Lift generated by a flapping wing.

[risha99]

Hi. I am trying to find an estimate for the lift generated by a flapping wing. For this scenario, we can assume that the wing has an AoA ranging from -45 deg to 45 deg. Also, we can ignore the lift generated by the upstroke because, for this specific wing design, a majority of the lift is generated during the downstroke. Ideally, my goal is to find what flapping frequency the wing would have to operate at to achieve a required amount of lift. I am having trouble in finding where to start. If anyone has any suggestions or useful resources, that would be awesome.

 

[berkeman]

Welcome to PhysicsForums.

I did a Google search on aerodynamics of flapping wings and got lots of hits. Check out the hit list to see if you find any good references...

https://www.google.com/search?q=aerodynamics+of+flapping+wings&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b-1

 

[anorlunda]

I hope those links lead you to the information you need. Don't forget that flapping wings must provide forward/backward thrust as well as lift. Birds other than hummingbirds usually don't hover.

 

[boneh3ad]

I hope those links lead you to the information you need. Don't forget that flapping wings must provide forward/backward thrust as well as lift. Birds other than hummingbirds usually don't hover.

That's not entirely accurate. Flapping wings are also common in helicopter rotors, which don't provide thrust in quite the same way as a bird (I'm sure I probably didn't actually have to type that last part).

 

[anorlunda]

Flapping wings are also common in helicopter rotors,

Thanks for that. I learned. I never heard the word flapping applied to helicopter rotors before. But a google for that shows that you're correct.

 

[hmmm27]

Thanks for that. I learned. I never heard the word flapping applied to helicopter rotors before. But a google for that shows that you're correct.

Why not do an ornithoptercopter ?

 

[berkeman]

I never heard the word flapping applied to helicopter rotors before

Well in fairness, it's a different kind of "flapping".