Simulations of a passively actuated oscillating airfoil using a discontinuous Galerkin method

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2008.

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Israeli, Emily Renee
Other Authors: Jamie Peraire.
Format: Thesis
Language:eng
Published: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2009
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45892
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author Israeli, Emily Renee
author2 Jamie Peraire.
author_facet Jamie Peraire.
Israeli, Emily Renee
author_sort Israeli, Emily Renee
collection MIT
description Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2008.
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spelling mit-1721.1/458922019-04-10T14:28:19Z Simulations of a passively actuated oscillating airfoil using a discontinuous Galerkin method Israeli, Emily Renee Jamie Peraire. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Aeronautics and Astronautics. Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2008. Includes bibliographical references (p. 87-89). Natural flappers, such as birds and bats, effectively maneuver in transitional, low Reynolds number flow, outperforming any current small engineered flapping vehicle. Thus, engineers are inspired to investigate the flapping dynamics present in nature to further understand the non-traditional flow aerodynamics in which they operate. Undeniably the success of biological flapping flight is the exploitation of fluid structure interaction response i.e. wing mechanics, deformation, and morphing. Even though all these features are encountered in nature, it is important to note that natural flappers have not just adapted to optimize their aerodynamic behavior, they also have evolved due to biological constraints. Therefore, in bio-inspired design one carefully uses the insight gained from understanding natural flappers. Here, a 2-D simulation of a pitching and heaving foil attempts to indicate flapping parameter specifics that generate an efficient, thrust producing flapper. The simulations are performed using a high-order Discontinuous Galerkin finite element solver for the compressible Navier Stokes equations. A brief investigation of a simple problem in which pitch and heave of a foil are prescribed highlights the necessity to use an inexpensive lower fidelity model to narrow down the large design space to a manageable region of interest. A torsional spring is placed at the foil's leading edge to passively modulate the pitch while the foil is harmonically heaved. (cont.) This model gives the foil passive structural compliance that automatically determines the pitch. The two-way fluid structure interaction thus results from the simultaneous resolution of the fluid and moment equations. This thesis explores the pitch profile and force generation characteristics of the spring-driven, oscillating foil. The passive strategy is found to enhance the propulsive efficiency and thrust production of the flappers specifically in cases where separation is encountered. Furthermore, the passive spring system performs like an ideal actuator that enables the oscillating foil to extract energy from the fluid motion without additional power input. Thus, this is the optimal mechanism to drive the foil dynamics for efficient flight with kinematic flexibility. by Emily Renee Israeli. S.M. 2009-06-30T16:33:26Z 2009-06-30T16:33:26Z 2008 2008 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45892 320450754 eng M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission. http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582 89 p. application/pdf Massachusetts Institute of Technology
spellingShingle Aeronautics and Astronautics.
Israeli, Emily Renee
Simulations of a passively actuated oscillating airfoil using a discontinuous Galerkin method
title Simulations of a passively actuated oscillating airfoil using a discontinuous Galerkin method
title_full Simulations of a passively actuated oscillating airfoil using a discontinuous Galerkin method
title_fullStr Simulations of a passively actuated oscillating airfoil using a discontinuous Galerkin method
title_full_unstemmed Simulations of a passively actuated oscillating airfoil using a discontinuous Galerkin method
title_short Simulations of a passively actuated oscillating airfoil using a discontinuous Galerkin method
title_sort simulations of a passively actuated oscillating airfoil using a discontinuous galerkin method
topic Aeronautics and Astronautics.
url http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45892
work_keys_str_mv AT israeliemilyrenee simulationsofapassivelyactuatedoscillatingairfoilusingadiscontinuousgalerkinmethod