• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.6-13
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• 2006

Aerodynamic characteristics for two-dimensional cyclic motion profile of flapping airfoil in low Reynolds number flows are investigated. Plunging motion and lead-lag motion in the two dimensional space with different plunging and lead-lag amplitudes are combined to cyclic motion profile and the flow around the airfoil is simulated. Present result shows that the improved aerodynamic efficiencies for a given flapping airfoil by adding periodic lead-lag motion of airfoil rather than the pure plunging case. The thrust coefficient and lift coefficient are compared with each cycle during the flapping period and aerodynamic characteristics are obtained on upstroke motion and downstroke motion.