The Advantages of an Unsteady Panel Method in Modelling the Aerodynamic Forces on Rigid Flapping Wings

ABSTRACT This paper responds to research into the aerodynamics of flapping wings and to the problem of the lack of an adequate method which accommodates large-scale trailing vortices. A comparative review is provided of prevailing aerodynamic methods, highlighting their respective limitations as well as strengths. The main advantages of an unsteady aerodynamic panel method are then introduced and illustrated by modelling the flapping wings of a tethered sphingid moth and comparing the results with those generated using a quasi-steady method. The improved correlations of the aerodynamic forces and the resultant graphics clearly demonstrate the advantages of the unsteady panel method (namely, its ability to detail the trailing wake and to include dynamic effects in a distributed manner).