Multi-cored vortices support function of slotted wing tips of birds in gliding and flapping flight
(2017) In Journal of the Royal Society, Interface 14(130).- Abstract
- Slotted wing tips of birds are commonly considered an adaptation to improve soaring performance, despite their presence in species that neither soar nor glide. We used particle image velocimetry to measure the airflow around the slotted wing tip of a jackdaw (Corvus monedula) as well as in its wake during unrestrained flight in a wind tunnel. The separated primary feathers produce individual wakes, confirming a multi-slotted function, in both gliding and flapping flight. The resulting multi-cored wingtip vortex represents a spreading of vorticity, which has previously been suggested as indicative of increased aerodynamic efficiency. Considering benefits of the slotted wing tips that are specific to flapping flight combined with the wide... (More)
- Slotted wing tips of birds are commonly considered an adaptation to improve soaring performance, despite their presence in species that neither soar nor glide. We used particle image velocimetry to measure the airflow around the slotted wing tip of a jackdaw (Corvus monedula) as well as in its wake during unrestrained flight in a wind tunnel. The separated primary feathers produce individual wakes, confirming a multi-slotted function, in both gliding and flapping flight. The resulting multi-cored wingtip vortex represents a spreading of vorticity, which has previously been suggested as indicative of increased aerodynamic efficiency. Considering benefits of the slotted wing tips that are specific to flapping flight combined with the wide phylogenetic occurrence of this configuration, we propose the hypothesis that slotted wings evolved initially to improve performance in powered flight. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/aa5fca65-ebbe-44a9-bed8-8c0247586bf2
- author
- KleinHeerenbrink, Marco LU ; Hedenström, Anders LU and Johansson, Christoffer LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2017-05-24
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- animal flight, slotted wing tips, separated outer primary feathers, flight efficiency, jackdaw, Corvus monedula, wind tunnel
- in
- Journal of the Royal Society, Interface
- volume
- 14
- issue
- 130
- publisher
- The Royal Society of Canada
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85020740955
- pmid:28539482
- wos:000402534200021
- ISSN
- 1742-5662
- DOI
- 10.1098/rsif.2017.0099
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- aa5fca65-ebbe-44a9-bed8-8c0247586bf2
- date added to LUP
- 2017-05-25 11:22:10
- date last changed
- 2022-04-17 02:04:48
@article{aa5fca65-ebbe-44a9-bed8-8c0247586bf2,
abstract = {{Slotted wing tips of birds are commonly considered an adaptation to improve soaring performance, despite their presence in species that neither soar nor glide. We used particle image velocimetry to measure the airflow around the slotted wing tip of a jackdaw (Corvus monedula) as well as in its wake during unrestrained flight in a wind tunnel. The separated primary feathers produce individual wakes, confirming a multi-slotted function, in both gliding and flapping flight. The resulting multi-cored wingtip vortex represents a spreading of vorticity, which has previously been suggested as indicative of increased aerodynamic efficiency. Considering benefits of the slotted wing tips that are specific to flapping flight combined with the wide phylogenetic occurrence of this configuration, we propose the hypothesis that slotted wings evolved initially to improve performance in powered flight.}},
author = {{KleinHeerenbrink, Marco and Hedenström, Anders and Johansson, Christoffer}},
issn = {{1742-5662}},
keywords = {{animal flight; slotted wing tips; separated outer primary feathers; flight efficiency; jackdaw; Corvus monedula; wind tunnel}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{05}},
number = {{130}},
publisher = {{The Royal Society of Canada}},
series = {{Journal of the Royal Society, Interface}},
title = {{Multi-cored vortices support function of slotted wing tips of birds in gliding and flapping flight}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2017.0099}},
doi = {{10.1098/rsif.2017.0099}},
volume = {{14}},
year = {{2017}},
}