Accession Number:
AD0436778
Title:
A STUDY OF OSCILLATORY WING PROPULSION.
Descriptive Note:
Final rept.,
Corporate Author:
ILLINOIS INST OF TECH CHICAGO
Personal Author(s):
Report Date:
1963-11-01
Pagination or Media Count:
83.0
Abstract:
The propulsive force on an oscillating wing in uniform flow has been investigated. A survey was made of the principal hydro- and aerodynamic considerations which are necessary for an adequate physical understanding of this phenomenon. An extension of one portion of this analysis has led to a new relationship of fundamental interest, relating propulsive thrust to flapping frequency, amplitude, and flow speed. Wind tunnel measurements of instantaneous, small, oscillatory forces by means of a virtual center suspension and balance system are discussed. An account is given of actual measurements in a particular case, which are believed to be the first experimental verification in a wind tunnel, of oscillatory wing propulsion. Author