Abstract:
The variation in flapping wing pitch angles profoundly influences insects' flight and acoustic performance. In this study, we conduct a preliminary investigation on the flight and acoustic performance during wing flapping, focusing on three distinct pitch angle patterns: sinusoidal, trapezoidal, and rapid pitch-up. Our primary interest lies in insects harnessing wing-produced sound waves, or wing tones, for communication. The flow fields around the flapping wing are computed using an overset grid approach to solve the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. Subsequently, the Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings equation is applied to predict sound generation, leveraging data from the aerodynamic simulations. The results indicate that different pitch angle patterns may be suitable for various practical applications. Specifically, the sinusoidal pattern enhances flight efficiency and reduces noise levels, the trapezoidal pattern generates higher lift and improves sound-generation efficiency for communication, and the rapid pitch-up pattern can provide both higher flight efficiency and superior sound-generation efficiency for communication. Therefore, in the design of micro aerial vehicles moving forward, diverse modes of flapping wing pitch angle variation can be employed to cater to distinct design requirements.