TITLE:

Modeling of aerodynamics of flapping wings and blades using Lattice Boltzmann method and high-order of approximation numerical schemes

DATE:

Friday, October 9th, 2015

TIME:

3:30 PM

LOCATION:

GMCS 214

SPEAKER:

Dr. Alex Povitsky. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Akron

ABSTRACT:

Numerical model of aerodynamics of flapping wing in generalized pitching motion has been developed based on the high-order compact approximation of derivatives in Navier-Stokes equations, non-inertial coordinate system attached to the moving wing, and carefully tuned non-uniform grid. Comparison of numerical results for pitching and plunging wing with the experimental data at Re=10000 showed good qualitative agreement for the streamwise velocity and vorticity.

Next, the aerodynamics of sets of flapping blades is explored for possible use in turbo-machinery compressors. The computational approach to model flapping blades in confined space is based on a novel particle-based kinetic Lattice Boltzmann method (LBM). Commercial LBM-based CFD software XFlow has been adopted to handle complex multi–body motion thus avoiding classic domain meshing needed by finite-volume computations. The user can control the local level of refinement of the underlying lattice in near-wing boundary layer and in street of vortices behind the wing. Selected values of governing parameters of single and paired flapping blades include blade profile and thickness, amplitude of plunging, angular amplitude of pitching, phase difference between plunging and pitching, distance between blades and phase difference between motions of two blades in parallel setting.

HOST:

Dr. Jose Castillo

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