Aerodynamics of a Rotating and Flapping Insect Wing

This thesis presents effects of various geometrical and kinematic parameters on the aerodynamics of a rotating and flapping insect wing. The results provide useful insights into the understanding of why certain insects have certain wing shapes and flapping motion profiles. Remarkably, the thesis proposes modified definitions of two of the key parameters, namely, the Reynolds number and Rossby number, which help reconcile the apparently conflicting results from past studies. Overall, the results obtained by investigating a large parameter space, using both the experimental and computational analyses, might be useful in designing more efficient micro-air vehicles.