Multiple leading edge vortices of unexpected strength in freely flying hawkmoth.
(2013) In Scientific Reports 3.- Abstract
- The Leading Edge Vortex (LEV) is a universal mechanism enhancing lift in flying organisms. LEVs, generally illustrated as a single vortex attached to the wing throughout the downstroke, have not been studied quantitatively in freely flying insects. Previous findings are either qualitative or from flappers and tethered insects. We measure the flow above the wing of freely flying hawkmoths and find multiple simultaneous LEVs of varying strength and structure along the wingspan. At the inner wing there is a single, attached LEV, while at mid wing there are multiple LEVs, and towards the wingtip flow separates. At mid wing the LEV circulation is ~40% higher than in the wake, implying that the circulation unrelated to the LEV may reduce lift.... (More)
- The Leading Edge Vortex (LEV) is a universal mechanism enhancing lift in flying organisms. LEVs, generally illustrated as a single vortex attached to the wing throughout the downstroke, have not been studied quantitatively in freely flying insects. Previous findings are either qualitative or from flappers and tethered insects. We measure the flow above the wing of freely flying hawkmoths and find multiple simultaneous LEVs of varying strength and structure along the wingspan. At the inner wing there is a single, attached LEV, while at mid wing there are multiple LEVs, and towards the wingtip flow separates. At mid wing the LEV circulation is ~40% higher than in the wake, implying that the circulation unrelated to the LEV may reduce lift. The strong and complex LEV suggests relatively high flight power in hawmoths. The variable LEV structure may result in variable force production, influencing flight control in the animals. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/4179170
- author
- Johansson, Christoffer LU ; Engel, Sophia LU ; Kelber, Almut LU ; Klein Heerenbrink, Marco LU and Hedenström, Anders LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2013
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- Scientific Reports
- volume
- 3
- article number
- 3264
- publisher
- Nature Publishing Group
- external identifiers
-
- wos:000327517300001
- pmid:24253180
- scopus:84888270571
- ISSN
- 2045-2322
- DOI
- 10.1038/srep03264
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 8f9e40be-7457-434b-9110-9ac2cb4a248e (old id 4179170)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 12:57:43
- date last changed
- 2024-01-09 05:50:56
@article{8f9e40be-7457-434b-9110-9ac2cb4a248e,
abstract = {{The Leading Edge Vortex (LEV) is a universal mechanism enhancing lift in flying organisms. LEVs, generally illustrated as a single vortex attached to the wing throughout the downstroke, have not been studied quantitatively in freely flying insects. Previous findings are either qualitative or from flappers and tethered insects. We measure the flow above the wing of freely flying hawkmoths and find multiple simultaneous LEVs of varying strength and structure along the wingspan. At the inner wing there is a single, attached LEV, while at mid wing there are multiple LEVs, and towards the wingtip flow separates. At mid wing the LEV circulation is ~40% higher than in the wake, implying that the circulation unrelated to the LEV may reduce lift. The strong and complex LEV suggests relatively high flight power in hawmoths. The variable LEV structure may result in variable force production, influencing flight control in the animals.}},
author = {{Johansson, Christoffer and Engel, Sophia and Kelber, Almut and Klein Heerenbrink, Marco and Hedenström, Anders}},
issn = {{2045-2322}},
language = {{eng}},
publisher = {{Nature Publishing Group}},
series = {{Scientific Reports}},
title = {{Multiple leading edge vortices of unexpected strength in freely flying hawkmoth.}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep03264}},
doi = {{10.1038/srep03264}},
volume = {{3}},
year = {{2013}},
}