Unsteady Three-Dimensional Viscous Flow Simulation of a Dragonfly Hovering

Abstract

In order to clarify the basic aerodynamic mechanisms of the hovering flight of the dragonfly, numerical simulations of the unsteady viscous flow around a tandem wing configuration have been performed using a three -dimensional Navier -Stokes code. The flow simulations are conducted for Anax parthenope julius as a typical dragonfly model. The total lifting force and specific necessary power predicted by the present simulation show close agreement with those observed experimentally for the present dragonfly model. The present code is furth er validated by comparing the results of the simulation with the experimental values of total lift and stroke -plane angle obtained using a robot.