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Numerical analysis of geometrical and aerodynamic enhancements of a birdlike wing

Ramy Harik (Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon)
Alipio Nicolas (Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon)
Mohamed Dassouki (Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon)
Alain Bernard (Institut de Recherche en Communications et Cybernétique de Nantes, Ecole Centrale de Nantes, Nantes, France)

Engineering Computations

ISSN: 0264-4401

Article publication date: 2 March 2015

296

Abstract

Purpose

Biomimetic study existing natural biological elements to produce engineering products with similar performance and abilities. The purpose of this paper is to highlight biomimetic studies to produce a new type of airplanes: adding remiges, bending ability and flapping mechanisms.

Design/methodology/approach

The used methodology was to thoroughly investigate the literature, to define the proper endurance and fatigue parameters, to perform a series of numerical studies and report improvement percentages relevant to defined parameters.

Findings

By adding remiges and the bending mechanism, the authors managed to reach – numerically – the preset desired structure goal. Efficiency increased using remiges with less drag force. In addition, with the help of the bending wing technique, the drag force was improved. The flapping mechanism showed high vibration rates. Last but not least, applying multiple winglets gave a better optimization of the endurance parameter.

Research limitations/implications

Research is conducted at a university without any research facilities. No laboratories exist, and acquiring research papers is mostly difficult and costly.

Originality/value

The research study is original in the sense of its numerical investigation. Proposing biomimetic was at the heart of the airplane invention and cannot be stated as an original contribution. Rather the field has been recently abandoned, and performing this major literature review can be considered as original in a sense it summarizes recent to somewhat old advancement.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the contributions of Alipio Nicolas and Mohamed Dassouki.

Citation

Harik, R., Nicolas, A., Dassouki, M. and Bernard, A. (2015), "Numerical analysis of geometrical and aerodynamic enhancements of a birdlike wing", Engineering Computations, Vol. 32 No. 1, pp. 86-101. https://doi.org/10.1108/EC-03-2013-0097

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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