Fabrication of artifical biomimetic wing of dragonfly and its aerodynamic effect

S. Umezu, H. Hashimoto, H. Ohmori

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Research on MAV (Micro air vehicle) has been carried out by many researchers to gather information in environmental monitoring, security and so on. When the earthquake, fire, smoke take place, it is difficult for human beings to investigate the detail because of dangerous condition. However, MAV has possibility to investigate the detail because MAV can fly freely around. Recently, dragonfly is highly focused by many researchers because dragonfly has high flight performances those are high efficiency flight, unintended acceleration, rapid turn and hovering. In general, these characteristics have root that wing is corrugation shape. We focus on microstructures on wing and its aerodynamic characteristics because there are many unique microstructures that are many umbos, micro bio-vortex and so on. This paper presents the umbos on wing vein of dragonfly. Over three thousands of umbos exist on two sides of wing. The length and shape of umbos are 10 to 100 micron meters and oblique circular cone. It is important to clear the aerodynamic effect of the oblique circular cone. Artificial umbos are fabricated by application of electrolytic polishing. The artificial umbos are set on metal sheet by micro resistance welding in the condition that the optimized pressure is put between the artificial umbos and the metal sheet. Artificial wing consist of several hundred umbos that are set on metal sheet. Flow visualization experiments using the artificial wings are carried out to investigate aerodynamic effect of umbos on metal sheet. The artificial wing, natural wing and metal plate are conducted to originally developed flaps simulator in a steady state of flow. Laminar flow is observed after the simulator in case that the artificial wing and natural wing are used. Turbulent flow and vortex is observed after the simulator in case that the metal sheet is used. These results indicate that dragonfly control the flow around its body utilizing the many umbos on wing.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 12th International Conference of the European Society for Precision Engineering and Nanotechnology, EUSPEN 2012
EditorsH. Spaan, Theresa Burke, Paul Shore
Publishereuspen
Pages473-476
Number of pages4
ISBN (Electronic)9780956679000
Publication statusPublished - 2012 Jan 1
Externally publishedYes
Event12th International Conference of the European Society for Precision Engineering and Nanotechnology, EUSPEN 2012 - Stockholm, Sweden
Duration: 2012 Jun 42012 Jun 7

Publication series

NameProceedings of the 12th International Conference of the European Society for Precision Engineering and Nanotechnology, EUSPEN 2012
Volume2

Conference

Conference12th International Conference of the European Society for Precision Engineering and Nanotechnology, EUSPEN 2012
Country/TerritorySweden
CityStockholm
Period12/6/412/6/7

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Instrumentation
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Materials Science(all)

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