The separation vortex in the Weis-Fogh circulation-generation mechanism

Abstract

The influence of leading-edge separation vortices on the Weis-Fogh (1973) lift- generation mechanism for insect hovering is investigated. The analysis employs a vortex-shedding model (Edwards 1954; Cheng 1954) and represents an extension of Lighthill's (1973, 1975) analysis of an inviscid model without separated vortices. Results of the study compare reasonably well with observations on a laboratory model at high Reynolds number (Maxworthy 1979), confirming that vortex separation significantly enhances the initial circulation on each of the wings. Unlike the un- separated-model solution, this circulation was found to depend on the history of the wing motion and to increase with a large opening angle.