Adjoint-based optimization of flapping plates hinged with a trailing-edge flap
- Resource Type
- article
- Authors
- Min Xu; Mingjun Wei; Chengyu Li; Haibo Dong
- Source
- Theoretical and Applied Mechanics Letters, Vol 5, Iss 1, Pp 1-4 (2015)
- Subject
- Flapping wing
Trailing-edge flap
Adjoint-based optimization
Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
TA1-2040
- Language
- English
- ISSN
- 2095-0349
It is important to understand the impact of wing-morphing on aerodynamic performance in the study of flapping-wing flight of birds and insects. We use a flapping plate hinged with a trailing-edge flap as a simplified model for flexible/morphing wings in hovering. The trailing-edge flapping motion is optimized by an adjoint-based approach. The optimized configuration suggests that the trailing-edge flap can substantially enhance the overall lift. Further analysis indicates that the lift enhancement by the trailing-edge flapping is from the change of circulation in two ways: the local circulation change by the rotational motion of the flap, and the modification of vortex shedding process by the relative location between the trailing-edge flap and leading-edge main plate.