The Aerodynamics of Bird Flight

Summer Research 2002-2003 Jennifer Panik

Advisor: Ann Anderson

Presentation Outline
Discuss basic aerodynamic forces Briefly discuss bird flight Briefly discuss wind tunnel testing Discuss Particle Image Velocimetry testing Last Summers Conclusions Explain Current Research Future work

Basic Aerodynamic Forces

Lift
Defined as the component of aerodynamic force perpendicular to the relative wind

Drag
Defined as the component of the aerodynamic force parallel to the relative wind

Source: Bird Flight, Robert Burton,1990

Stall
High pressure on under surface and low pressure on upper surface Drag increases greatly and there is no lift Instead of smooth flow, air separates
Source: The Miracle of Flight , Stephen Dalton, 1977

Flight Methods
Active Flight Hovering Flight Migration Soaring Gliding Flight

Source: http://www.hummingbird.org/Humming birds.On-Line.Issue.5.htm

 Soaring
Static soaring
Slope soaring Thermal soaring

Dynamic soaring
Source: Birds in Flight, John Kaufmann, 1970

Gliding Flight
Main component in soaring flight Muscles do no mechanical work Flap-gliding

Features That Affect Flight

Geometry of wing
A.R.= wing span / mean wing chord Wing loading = weight / area
Gliding speed proportional to wing loading

Tail Feet Feathers

Two physiological functions

Alula

Alula
Basically a thumb Automatic action Prevents stall at low speed Spread wing tips

Source: Bird Flight, Robert Burton,1990

Source: Birds in Flight, John Kaufmann, 1970

Project Objectives
To test bird wings to understand the aerodynamic effects of the alula To get an idea of what the air flow field over the wings looks like

Wind Tunnel Testing

Wind tunnel set up Dynamometer
Measures lift and drag

Testing the NACA 4412 airfoil Mounting wings Testing wings

Mounting Mechanism

Black Scoter Wing

Redhead Wing

Testing Summary
Proper trends occurred for both wings
Shape not magnitude matched the results from the airfoil

No great increase in lift when alula is held up

Falls within uncertainty

Redhead wing showed an increase in lift, but it was not significant Black scoter wing had to be tested several times
Alula up, false alula naturally up, both held down

Particle Image Velocimetry Testing

Instrumentation Wind tunnel Fog Machine Lasers Camera Image analysis software Coprocessor computer Data visualization program
PIV optical configuration

Source: http://tardis.union.edu/me_dept/me_dept.html

PIV Results for Redhead Wing

Last Summers Conclusions

I attained lift and drag results for the wings with reasonable uncertainty I verified the basic theory of aerodynamics No real prevention of stall detected from testing of alula

Current Research
Alula shown mostly when landing
Extremely high angles of attack
Raised alula

Alula used to reduce stalling speed Perhaps related to lift to drag ratio
The Tawny Owl
Source: The Miracle of Flight , Stephen Dalton, 1977

Starling Mute Swan

Raised alula Raised alula

Source: The Miracle of Flight , Stephen Dalton, 1977

Future Work
Confirm previous data Test wings at much greater angles of attack Dye wings in order to reduce reflection Extensive PIV testing of the wings
Multiple planes Multiple angles

Acknowledgements
Professor Tobiessen Biology Department

Research funded by the National Science Foundation Union College Summer Research Fund

Questions???
Redhead

Black Scoter

Source: www.cerc.cr.usgs.gov/frs_webs/ gulf_coast/laguna_madre.htm Source: http://weaselhead.org/learn/birds_black_scoter.asp