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Multiple leading edge vortices of unexpected strength in freely flying hawkmoth.

Johansson, Christoffer LU orcid ; Engel, Sophia LU ; Kelber, Almut LU ; Klein Heerenbrink, Marco LU and Hedenström, Anders LU (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)
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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
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
2024-10-09 19:49:52
@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}},
}