• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.32 no.7
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• pp.1-12
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• 2004

A flow visualization of the 1st cycle motion of a fling-clapping wing that might be employed by butterflies during flight is performed. In this numerical flow visualization, he time-dependent Navier-Stokes equations are solved for two wing motion types; 'fling followed by clap and pause' and 'clap followed by fling and pause'. The result is observed regarding the main flow features such as the sequential development of the two families of separation vortex pairs and their movement. For the fling followed by clap and pause motion, a strong separation vortex pair of counter-clockwise develops in the opening between the wings in the fling phase and they then move out from the opening in the following clap phase. For the clap followed by fling and pause motion, the separation vortex pair developed in the outside space in the clap phase move into the opening in the following fling phase. The separation vortex pair in the opening developed in the fling phase of the clap followed by fling and pause motion is observed to be stronger than that in the opening developed in the fling phase of the fling followed by clap and pause motion.