There has been a recent interest to explore the shape and kinematics parameters of distinct pterosaurs from their fossil records. Clearly, far more evidence is needed to understand the nuances of dinosaurs flight. A multiobjective aerodynamic optimization problem of the wing kinematics and planform of a pterosaur replica ornithopter designed by Aerovironment is performed. Objective functions include minimization of the required cycle-averaged aerodynamic power and maximization of the propulsive efficiency. It is found that inclusion of the inertial power requirements is necessary for a physical and proper formulation of the optimization problem. Furthermore, the mere addition of the inertial power requirements is not enough to obtain reasonable results. Rather, one has to consider a partial (or even zero) elastic energy storage. The minimum power kinematic parameters closely match those of the previously designed pterosaur replica. Nevertheless, the obtained efficiency for such a design (minimum power) is 10%, which is considerably lower than the maximum possible efficiency for the used planform (40%). Furthermore, the optimized planform for maximum efficiency of the pterosaur yields to an increase in the propulsive efficiency by 6%.


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    Title :

    Design Optimization of Flapping Ornithopters: The Pterosaur Replica in Forward Flight


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Journal of Aircraft ; 53 , 1 ; 48-59


    Publication date :

    2016-01-01




    Type of media :

    Conference paper , Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English





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