Numerical Simulation of Flapping Airfoil Aerodynamic Characteristics

Flapping airfoil flight technology is widely used in defense and civilian fields, and huge economic benefits can be created. The bionic flapping airfoil is the research object of this paper. The influence of flapping frequency, flight trajectory, different airfoil types, and various flapping layouts...

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Main Authors: Junjie Xu, Shizhen Zheng, Ziyu Guo, Jianlong Chang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Applied Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/15/8484
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author Junjie Xu
Shizhen Zheng
Ziyu Guo
Jianlong Chang
author_facet Junjie Xu
Shizhen Zheng
Ziyu Guo
Jianlong Chang
author_sort Junjie Xu
collection DOAJ
description Flapping airfoil flight technology is widely used in defense and civilian fields, and huge economic benefits can be created. The bionic flapping airfoil is the research object of this paper. The influence of flapping frequency, flight trajectory, different airfoil types, and various flapping layouts on the aerodynamic characteristics of the flapping airfoil is investigated through numerical calculation. It is found that an increase in the flutter frequency can lead to an increase in the lift and drag of the flutter airfoil, as well as the strength of the flutter airfoil leading edge vortex, thereby improving the aerodynamic characteristics of the flutter airfoil, but the increase in the frequency leads to the decrease in the lifting efficiency. With the same symmetry of the trajectory of the flapping airfoil, the flapping airfoil lift characteristics are the same, but the drag characteristics may be different. If the symmetry of the flapping airfoil trajectory is distinct, the lift and drag characteristics of the flapping airfoil are different, and it is also found that the best lifting efficiency occurred in the “∞” trajectory. If the curvature and thickness of the airfoil are different, the aerodynamic characteristics of the flapping airfoil are distinct. Finally, the effect of different layouts on the aerodynamic characteristics of the flapping airfoil is examined. It is found that both tandem and parallel layout flapping airfoils can effectively increase the lift drag, but both tandem and parallel layout flapping airfoils lead to a decrease in the lifting efficiency.
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spelling doaj-art-5a09bc74fe3649828d5173bf9a8aad502025-08-20T03:36:02ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-07-011515848410.3390/app15158484Numerical Simulation of Flapping Airfoil Aerodynamic CharacteristicsJunjie Xu0Shizhen Zheng1Ziyu Guo2Jianlong Chang3College of Mechatronics Engineering, North University of China, Taiyuan 030051, ChinaState-Run Changhong Machinery Plant, Guilin 541002, ChinaCollege of Mechatronics Engineering, North University of China, Taiyuan 030051, ChinaCollege of Energy and Power Engineering, North University of China, Taiyuan 030051, ChinaFlapping airfoil flight technology is widely used in defense and civilian fields, and huge economic benefits can be created. The bionic flapping airfoil is the research object of this paper. The influence of flapping frequency, flight trajectory, different airfoil types, and various flapping layouts on the aerodynamic characteristics of the flapping airfoil is investigated through numerical calculation. It is found that an increase in the flutter frequency can lead to an increase in the lift and drag of the flutter airfoil, as well as the strength of the flutter airfoil leading edge vortex, thereby improving the aerodynamic characteristics of the flutter airfoil, but the increase in the frequency leads to the decrease in the lifting efficiency. With the same symmetry of the trajectory of the flapping airfoil, the flapping airfoil lift characteristics are the same, but the drag characteristics may be different. If the symmetry of the flapping airfoil trajectory is distinct, the lift and drag characteristics of the flapping airfoil are different, and it is also found that the best lifting efficiency occurred in the “∞” trajectory. If the curvature and thickness of the airfoil are different, the aerodynamic characteristics of the flapping airfoil are distinct. Finally, the effect of different layouts on the aerodynamic characteristics of the flapping airfoil is examined. It is found that both tandem and parallel layout flapping airfoils can effectively increase the lift drag, but both tandem and parallel layout flapping airfoils lead to a decrease in the lifting efficiency.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/15/8484flapping airfoilflexibilitynumerical simulationaerodynamic characteristics
spellingShingle Junjie Xu
Shizhen Zheng
Ziyu Guo
Jianlong Chang
Numerical Simulation of Flapping Airfoil Aerodynamic Characteristics
Applied Sciences
flapping airfoil
flexibility
numerical simulation
aerodynamic characteristics
title Numerical Simulation of Flapping Airfoil Aerodynamic Characteristics
title_full Numerical Simulation of Flapping Airfoil Aerodynamic Characteristics
title_fullStr Numerical Simulation of Flapping Airfoil Aerodynamic Characteristics
title_full_unstemmed Numerical Simulation of Flapping Airfoil Aerodynamic Characteristics
title_short Numerical Simulation of Flapping Airfoil Aerodynamic Characteristics
title_sort numerical simulation of flapping airfoil aerodynamic characteristics
topic flapping airfoil
flexibility
numerical simulation
aerodynamic characteristics
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/15/8484
work_keys_str_mv AT junjiexu numericalsimulationofflappingairfoilaerodynamiccharacteristics
AT shizhenzheng numericalsimulationofflappingairfoilaerodynamiccharacteristics
AT ziyuguo numericalsimulationofflappingairfoilaerodynamiccharacteristics
AT jianlongchang numericalsimulationofflappingairfoilaerodynamiccharacteristics