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Khoon Seng Yeo

2013-11-13
10:40:00 - 12:00:00

308 , Mathematics Research Center Building (ori. New Math. Bldg.)

The study of animal propulsion, in particular the flight of birds and insects and the swimming of fishes have been very much the preserve of zoologists and biologists and a few physical scientists. In more recent times, it has also attracted growing interests from researchers in the field of engineering. This is due in part to advances in science and engineering up to a point where we could begin to attempt to mimic nature (bio-mimicry) and a general belief that we could learn from nature, whose systems are worth copying because they are highly optimized for the functions that they serve due to long evolutionary selection. In this seminar, I will describe recent works that we have done on flapping wing aerodynamics and flight of insect-like flyers in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the National University of Singapore, where we have programmes of experimental and computational studies. Insects have been described as the most agile and accomplished of all aerial flyers (bird included); and with good justifications too, for many could fly backwards, upside down or even mate in flight. Research of the last 30 years have shown that insects, especially the smaller ones, rely on a variety of unsteady aerodynamic mechanisms to generate the requisite lift to keep themselves in flight – that however is only the most basic requirement of flight. The present talk will focus primarily on the computational works. The talk will cover recent and on-going works we are doing on the free hovering flight and forward flight of small flapping-wing insects. I will also talk about the fluid dynamics of clap-and-fling, a lift enhancement technique used mainly by very small insects and some larger flyers.

For material related to this talk, click here.