Experimental study of the effects of bio-inspired blades and 3D printing on the performance of a small propeller

Hintz, Christoph; Khanbolouki, Pouria; Pérez, Andrés; Tehrani, Mehran; Poroseva, Svetlana V.

doi:10.2514/6.2018-3645

Cited by 6 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 10 publications

(12 reference statements)

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“…These have included examination of wing-body vehicle models [9,10], missiles [11] or measuring equipment [12]. Furthermore, the effects of a bio-inspired blade platform on the small propeller thrust and energy consumption were investigated by [13]. The models were manufactured with acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS-P430) through FDM technology and, after surface treatment, tested experimentally.…”

Section: Printing In Aerodynamicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fast Track Integration of Computational Methods with Experiments in Small Wind Turbine Development

2019

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In general, standard aerodynamic design is divided into two paths—numerical analysis and empirical tests. It is crucial to efficiently combine both approaches in order to entirely fulfill the requirements of the design process as well as the final product. An effective use of computational analysis is a challenge, however it can significantly improve understanding, exploring and confining the search for optimal product solutions. The article focuses on a rapid prototyping and testing procedure proposed and employed at the Institute of Turbomachinery, Lodz University of Technology (IMP TUL). This so called Fast Track approach combines preparation of numerical models of a wind turbine rotor, manufacturing of its geometry by means of a 3D printing method and testing it in an in-house wind tunnel. The idea is to perform the entire procedure in 24 h. The proposed process allows one to determine the most auspicious sets of rotor blades within a short time. Owing to this, it significantly reduces the amount of individual subsequent examinations. Having fixed the initial procedure, it is possible to expand research on the singled-out geometries. The abovementioned observations and the presented overview of the literature on uses of 3D printing in aerodynamic testing prove rapid prototyping as an innovative and widely-applicable method, significantly changing our approach to experimental aerodynamics.

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Section: Printing In Aerodynamicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fast Track Integration of Computational Methods with Experiments in Small Wind Turbine Development

2019

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“…Yang, Liu, and Hu et al 19 presented a small wavy propeller and compared its aerodynamic and acoustic performance with a baseline propeller. Hintz et al 20 presented experimental research findings to determine the influence of a bio-inspired blade planform on small-scale propeller thrust and energy consumption. Ning and Hu 21 examined a small propeller’s aerodynamic and aeroacoustic properties with a novel planform shape inspired by the maple seed by comparing it to a typical baseline propeller in hover flight.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental investigation into the aerodynamic and aeroacoustic performance of bioinspired small-scale propeller planforms

Moslem

Masdari

Fedir

et al. 2022

Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part G:

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The multi-rotors have a limited operational period and generate too much noise, which is insufficient for complex tasks and adversely affects humans’ and animals’ health. Nevertheless, their market has become increasingly popular. Therefore, low-noise products are more competitive, and aerodynamic and acoustic improvements are critical. This investigation aims to design a small bioinspired propeller with the same power input as a conventional propeller to achieve the same or better aerodynamic performance while decreasing noise. Accordingly, an experiment investigated the impacts of operation conditions and varied geometric parameters on six small propellers' aeroacoustic performances with a unique planform shape inspired by five insects and one plant seed, such as Blattodea, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Neuroptera, Odonata, and maple seed. Each propeller was operated at eleven rotational speeds ranging from 3000 to 8000 RPM with no freestream velocity for simulating hover conditions. Compared to the baseline propeller, the results demonstrate that all bioinspired propellers produce more thrust for the same power supply, reduce harmonic and broadband noise, and provide a better noise level. Also, their rotational speed is lower and their figure of merit is higher than the baseline propeller at hover flight with 3N thrust. They all outperform the baseline propeller in terms of hover efficiency at all thrust values considered. Besides, the Neuroptera propeller is more efficient than other propellers, decreasing 5.5 W of power and reducing 7.9 dBA at hover flight with 3N thrust and 1.5 meters distance, compared to the baseline propeller.

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“…Previous research on cicadas has mainly focused on their songs (Fonseca et al, 2000; Fonseca & Revez, 2002), whereas recently some studies addressed their mechanical properties and bionic design of micro aerial vehicle (MAV) wings (Liu et al, 2017; Park & Yoon, 2009; Song, 2004). Moreover, Poroseva's team demonstrated the potential aerodynamic benefits of the cicada wing‐inspired rotor/propeller blade, investigated bio‐inspired proprotor‐nacelle assembly design based on the cicada body shape, and revealed the shape of the leading‐edge cross section of a cicada's wing in the morphometrical study (Charley et al, 2020; Gomez et al, 2014; Hintz et al, 2018; Starkweather et al, 2021). The primary consideration for the selection of Cryptotympana atrata ( C. atrata ) was its strong flight ability.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The forewing of a black cicada Cryptotympana atrata (Hemiptera, Homoptera: Cicadidae): Microscopic structures and mechanical properties

Shen

et al. 2022

Microscopy Res & Technique

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Insects in nature flap their wings to generate lift force and driving torque to adjust their attitude and control stability. An insect wing is a biomaterial composed of flexible membranes and tough veins. In this paper, we study the microscopic structures and mechanical properties of the forewing of the black cicada, Cryptotympana atrata.The thickness of the wing membranes and the diameter of veins varied from the wing root to the tip. The thickness of the wing membranes ranged from 6.0 to 29.9 μm, and the diameter of the wing veins decreased in a gradient from the wing root to the tip, demonstrating that the forewing of the black cicada is a nonuniform biomaterial.The elastic modulus of the membrane near the wing root ranged from 4.45 to 5.03 GPa, which is comparable to that of some industrial membranes. The microstructure of the wing vein exhibited a hollow tubular structure with flocculent structure inside.The "fresh" sample stored more water than the "dry" sample, resulting in a significant difference in the elastic modulus between the fresh and dried veins. The different membrane thicknesses and elastic moduli of the wing veins near the root and tip resulted in varied degrees of deformation on both sides of the flexion line of the forewing during twisting. The measurements of the forewing of the cicada may serve as a guide for selecting airfoil materials for the bionic flapping-wing aircraft and promote the design and manufacture of more durable bionic wings in the future.

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Experimental study of the effects of bio-inspired blades and 3D printing on the performance of a small propeller

Cited by 6 publications

References 10 publications

Fast Track Integration of Computational Methods with Experiments in Small Wind Turbine Development

Fast Track Integration of Computational Methods with Experiments in Small Wind Turbine Development

Experimental investigation into the aerodynamic and aeroacoustic performance of bioinspired small-scale propeller planforms

The forewing of a black cicada Cryptotympana atrata (Hemiptera, Homoptera: Cicadidae): Microscopic structures and mechanical properties

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