Fluid-structure interaction characteristics of butterfly flexible flapping wings in the forward flight

Zhu Hanxi; Guo Chengpeng; Zhang Tiejun; Zhang Yang

doi:10.7638/kqdlxxb-2024.0189

English Version Journal Login

您当前的位置：

首页 >

文章列表页 >

Fluid-structure interaction characteristics of butterfly flexible flapping wings in the forward flight

更新时间：2026-05-28

- Fluid-structure interaction characteristics of butterfly flexible flapping wings in the forward flight
- Vol. 44, Issue 2, Pages: 81-92(2026)
- 作者机构：
  
  1. 南京航空航天大学航天学院,南京,210016
  2. 中国航空工业空气动力研究院,沈阳,110034
- 作者简介：
- 基金信息：
- DOI：10.7638/kqdlxxb-2024.0189
  CLC： V211.3;V279+.2;O355
- Published：2026
- 稿件说明：
移动端阅览
朱汉希, 郭承鹏, 张铁军, 等. 蝴蝶柔性扑翼前飞流固耦合特性[J]. 空气动力学学报, 2026, 44(2): 81−92.

Zhu Hanxi, Guo Chengpeng, Zhang Tiejun, et al. Fluid-structure interaction characteristics of butterfly flexible flapping wings in the forward flight[J]. 2026, 44(2): 81-92.
朱汉希, 郭承鹏, 张铁军, 等. 蝴蝶柔性扑翼前飞流固耦合特性[J]. 空气动力学学报, 2026, 44(2): 81−92. DOI： 10.7638/kqdlxxb-2024.0189

Zhu Hanxi, Guo Chengpeng, Zhang Tiejun, et al. Fluid-structure interaction characteristics of butterfly flexible flapping wings in the forward flight[J]. 2026, 44(2): 81-92. DOI： 10.7638/kqdlxxb-2024.0189.

摘要

扑翼刚度变化对昆虫前飞气动特性与结构响应具有显著影响。现有研究多聚焦于小型昆虫扑翼的流固耦合问题，而对具有大翅膀面积、低展弦比特征的蝴蝶扑翼研究稍显不足。为了研究不同柔性分布对仿蝴蝶扑翼前飞流固耦合特性的影响，本文基于真实斑凤蝶的外形和运动模式，建立了相应的几何模型与运动学方程，发展了一种基于格子玻尔兹曼方法与有限元方法的流固耦合求解方法，并通过标模算例验证了该方法的准确性。利用所发展的方法，分别比较了各向同性柔性分布、各向异性柔性分布与刚性分布的蝴蝶翅膀在扑动过程中的气动特性和结构响应差异。结果表明，各向同性柔性扑翼的飞行性能显著优于各向异性扑翼与刚性扑翼，其扑动产生的涡结构更为复杂。因翅膀柔性而产生的翼尖二次流涡和后翼翼尖涡形成了额外的低压区域，提升了柔性扑翼的飞行性能。本研究有望对扑翼飞行中涉及升力增强机制的涡动力学提供一些新的见解，从而为新型仿生微型扑翼飞行器的设计提供参考。

Abstract

The stiffness of flapping wings significantly influences the aerodynamic characteristics and structural response of insects in forward flight. While numerous studies have focused on the fluid-structure interaction of small insect wings

research on butterflies

characterized by large wing areas and low aspect ratios

remains relatively scarce. To investigate the effects of different flexibility distributions on the fluid-structure interaction characteristics of butterfly-like flapping wings in forward flight

a geometric model and kinematic equations were established based on the morphology and motion patterns of Chilasa clytia. A fluid-structure interaction solver combining the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) and the finite element method (FEM) was developed and validated with benchmark cases. The developed method was then employed to systematically compare the aerodynamic performance and structural responses among isotropic flexible

anisotropic flexible

and rigid butterfly wings during flapping. The results indicate that the isotropic flexible wing exhibits significantly enhanced flight performance compared to the anisotropic and rigid wings. The flapping of the isotropic flexible wing generates more complex vortex structures

including the wingtip secondary flow vortex (WSFV) and the hindwing tip vortex (HTV). These vortices create an additional low-pressure region

thereby improving the aerodynamic performance. This study provides new insights into the vortex dynamics associated with lift enhancement mechanisms in flapping flight and offers valuable references for the design of novel bio-inspired micro flapping-wing aerial vehicles.

关键词

Keywords

references

Cheng Cheng, Chen Long, Zhang Yanlai, et al. A review of aerodynamic design for hover-capable flapping-wing micro air vehicles[J]. Acta Aerodynamica Sinica, 2025, 43(2): 1−26 (in Chinese). doi: 10.7638/kqdlxxb-2024.0044

Zhang Yixin, Li Shaoshi, Wang Xingjian, et al. Research progress on the flight mechanism of butterfly and butterfly-inspired flappingwing air vehicles[J]. Chinese Journal of Engineering, 2024, 46(9): 1582−1593 (in Chinese). doi: 10.13374/j.issn2095-9389.2023.10.11.002

Yang Wenqing, Guo Yueyang, Dong Yuanbo, et al. Research progress on fluid structure interaction of bionic flexible flapping wing UAV[J]. Acta Aeronautica et Astronautica Sinica, 2024, 45(17): 530069 (in Chinese). doi: 10.7527/S1000-6893.2024.30069

Xue Dong, Zhu Ziwen, Song Bifeng. Key technologies of bird inspired flapping-wing micro aerial vehicles: Review[J]. Acta Aeronautica et Astronautica Sinica, 2024, 45(17): 529984 (in Chinese). doi: 10.7527/S1000-6893.2024.29984

Brodsky A K. The Evolution of insect flight[M]. Oxford University Press, 1994. doi: 10.1093/oso/9780198546818.001.0001

Wootton R. Functional morphology of insect wings[J]. Annual Review of Entomology, 37: 113−140. doi: 10.1146/annurev.ento.37.1.113

Van Veen W G. Aerodynamics of insect flight[D]. Wageningen, the Netherlands: Wageningen University and Research, 2020. doi: 10.18174/528044

Ellington C P. The aerodynamics of hovering insect flight. III. Kinematics[J]. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London B, Biological Sciences, 1984, 305(1122): 41−78. doi: 10.1098/rstb.1984.0051

Weis-Fogh T. Quick estimates of flight fitness in hovering animals, including novel mechanisms for lift production[J]. Journal of Experimental Biology, 1973, 59(1): 169−230. doi: 10.1242/jeb.59.1.169

Dickinson M H, Lehmann F O, Sane S P. Wing rotation and the aerodynamic basis of insect flight[J]. Science, 1999, 284(5422): 1954−1960. doi: 10.1126/science.284.5422.1954

Srygley R B, Thomas A L. Unconventional lift-generating mechanisms in free-flying butterflies[J]. Nature, 2002, 420(6916): 660−664. doi: 10.1038/nature01223

Lou Z P, Li C Y. Unsteady aerodynamics and wake structures of butterfly in forward flight[C]//Proc of the AIAA AVIATION 2023 Forum, San Diego, CA and Online. AIAA, 2023: AIAA 2023-4241. doi: 10.2514/6.2023-4241

Liu G, Dong H B, Li C Y. Vortex dynamics and new lift enhancement mechanism of wing–body interaction in insect forward flight[J]. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 2016, 795: 634−651. doi: 10.1017/jfm.2016.175

Tejaswi K C, Sridhar M K, Kang C K, et al. Effects of abdomen undulation in energy consumption and stability for monarch butterfly[J]. Bioinspiration Biomimetics, 2021, 16(4): 046003. doi: 10.1088/1748-3190/abce4d

Nakata T, Liu H. A fluid–structure interaction model of insect flight with flexible wings[J]. Journal of Computational Physics, 2012, 231(4): 1822−1847. doi: 10.1016/j.jcp.2011.11.005

Suzuki K, Minami K, Inamuro T. Lift and thrust generation by a butterfly-like flapping wing–body model: immersed boundary–lattice Boltzmann simulations[J]. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 2015, 767: 659−695. doi: 10.1017/jfm.2015.57

Vanella M, Fitzgerald T, Preidikman S, et al. Influence of flexibility on the aerodynamic performance of a hovering wing[J]. J Exp Biol, 2009, 212(pt 1): 95-105. doi: 10.1242/jeb.016428

Martínez-Muriel C, Arranz G, García-Villalba M, et al. Fluid-structure resonance in spanwise-flexible flapping wings[J]. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 2023, 964: A5. doi: 10.1017/jfm.2023.308

Liu Huixiang, He Guoyi, Wang Qi. Numerical study on the aerodynamic performance of the flexible and corrugated forewing of dragonfly in gilding flight[J]. Chinese Journal of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, 2019, 51(1): 94−102 (in Chinese). doi: 10.6052/0459-1879-18-157

Liu Xubo, Wang Fenfen, Yu Jiyan. Study on aerodynamic characteristics of flexible wing[J]. Journal of Ordnance Equipment Engineering, 2021, 42(1): 206−212(in Chinese). doi: 10.11809/bqzbgcxb2021.01.037

Liu Xiaochen, He Xinyi, He Guoyi, et al. The aerodynamic performance of non-uniform flexible dragonfly's forewing in flapping flight[J]. Chinese Journal of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, 2022, 54(4): 991−1003(in Chinese). doi: 10.6052/0459-1879-21-622

Sridhar M, Pohly J A, Kang C K, et al. Effects of vein structures on fluid-structure interaction of flexible flapping wings at high altitudes[C]//Proc of the AIAA Scitech 2021 Forum, Online. AIAA, 2021: AIAA 2021-0963. doi: 10.2514/6.2021-0963

Twigg R, Sridhar M, Pohly J A, et al. Aeroelastic characterization of real and artificial monarch butterfly wings[C]//Proc of the AIAA Scitech 2020 Forum, Orlando, Florida. AIAA, 2020: AIAA 2020-2002. doi: 10.2514/6.2020-2002

Suzuki K, Okada I, Yoshino M. Effect of wing mass on the free flight of a butterfly-like model using immersed boundary–lattice Boltzmann simulations[J]. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 2019, 877: 614−647. doi: 10.1017/jfm.2019.597

Revathy V S, Mathew G. Identity, biology and bionomics of the common mime chilasa clytia Linnaeus (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae)[J]. Journal of Threatened Taxa, 2014, 6(14): 6719−6722. doi: 10.11609/jott.o3808.6719-22

Zhang Y X, Wang X J, Wang S P, et al. Kinematic and aerodynamic investigation of the butterfly in forward free flight for the butterfly-inspired flapping wing air vehicle[J]. Applied Sciences, 2021, 11(6): 2620. doi: 10.3390/app11062620

Chen S Y, Doolen G D. Lattice Boltzmann method for fluid flows[J]. Annual Review of Fluid Mechanics, 1998, 30: 329−364. doi: 10.1146/annurev.fluid.30.1.329

Bhardwaj S, Dalal A, Biswas G, et al. Analysis of droplet dynamics in a partially obstructed confinement in a three-dimensional channel[J]. Physics of Fluids, 2018, 30(10): 102102. doi: 10.1063/1.5030738

Bhatnagar P L, Gross E P, Krook M. A model for collision processes in gases. I. small amplitude processes in charged and neutral one-component systems[J]. Physical Review, 1954, 94(3): 511−525. doi: 10.1103/physrev.94.511

Qian Y H, D'humières D, Lallemand P. Lattice BGK models for navier-stokes equation[J]. EPL (Europhysics Letters), 1992, 17: 479. doi: 10.1209/0295-5075/17/6/001

Hilber H M, Hughes T J R, Taylor R L. Improved numerical dissipation for time integration algorithms in structural dynamics[J]. Earthquake Engineering Structural Dynamics, 1977, 5(3): 283−292. doi: 10.1002/eqe.4290050306

Tang H, Lei Y L, Li X Z, et al. Numerical investigation of the aerodynamic characteristics and attitude stability of a bio-inspired corrugated airfoil for MAV or UAV applications[J]. Energies, 2019, 12(20): 4021. doi: 10.3390/en12204021

Dai H, Luo H X, Doyle J F. Dynamic pitching of an elastic rectangular wing in hovering motion[J]. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 2012, 693: 473−499. doi: 10.1017/jfm.2011.543

Wang H, Zeng L, Liu H, et al. Measuring wing kinematics, flight trajectory and body attitude during forward flight and turning maneuvers in dragonflies[J]. J Exp Biol, 2003, 206(pt 4): 745−757. doi: 10.1242/jeb.00183

Heathcote S, Gursul I. Flexible flapping airfoil propulsion at low Reynolds numbers[J]. AIAA Journal, 2007, 45(5): 1066−1079. doi: 10.2514/1.25431

Fuchiwaki M, Kuroki T, Tanaka K, et al. Dynamic behavior of the vortex ring formed on a butterfly wing[J]. Experiments in Fluids, 2013, 54(1): 1450. doi: 10.1007/s00348-012-1450-x

Yokoyama N, Senda K, Iima M, et al. Aerodynamic forces and vortical structures in flapping butterfly's forward flight[J]. Physics of Fluids, 2013, 25(2): 021902. doi: 10.1063/1.4790882

Views

下载量

CSCD

Alert me when the article has been cited

提交

Tools

Publicity Resources

Research on the aerodynamic performance of compressor blades considering fluid-structure interaction effects

Advances in machine learning for wind-induced fluid-structure interaction of large-scale structures

Fluid-structure interaction simulation of parachute inflation based on an immersed boundary method and large eddy simulation

Vortex-induced vibration characteristics of harbor seal whisker under different wakes

Review of multiphase flow and fluid-structure interaction of high-speed water entry

Related Author

HE Xu

ZHA Hao

CHU Shibo

LI Bin

ZHOU Xuxi

ZHANG Zeyu

XU Nan

WHANG Haowei

Related Institution

State Key Laboratory of Aerodynamics, Mianyang

Sichuan Tianfu Fluid Big Data Research Center, Chengdu

Computational Aerodynamic Institute of China Aerodynamics Research and Development Center, Mianyang

Key Lab of Smart Prevention and Mitigation of Civil Engineering Disasters of The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin

Key Lab of Structures Dynamic Behavior and Control of The Ministry of Education, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin

AI问答

⁰