Due to autorotation,samaras can fly efficiently and stably to be dispersed over a great distance under various weather conditions.Here,we provide a quantitative analysis of the dynamic stability of free-falling maple ...Due to autorotation,samaras can fly efficiently and stably to be dispersed over a great distance under various weather conditions.Here,we provide a quantitative analysis of the dynamic stability of free-falling maple samara(Acer grosseri Pax)and verify whether they are dynamically stable as observed.Morphological and kinematic parameters were obtained based on the existing experimental data of the maple seed.Then the linearized equations of motion were derived,and the stability derivatives were calculated by a computational fluid dynamics method.The techniques of eigenvalue and eigenvector analysis were also used to examine the stability characteristics.It is found that there are five natural modes of motion of the maple seed:one stable oscillatory mode,one fast subsidence mode,one slow subsidence mode,and two neutral stable modes.The two neutral modes are manifested as the seed moving horizontally at a low speed under disturbance.Results show that the maple seed has dynamic stability in sustaining the steady autorotation and descent,exhibiting a minor horizontal motion when disturbed.These findings can beapplied to biomimetic aircraft.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.11832004)。
文摘Due to autorotation,samaras can fly efficiently and stably to be dispersed over a great distance under various weather conditions.Here,we provide a quantitative analysis of the dynamic stability of free-falling maple samara(Acer grosseri Pax)and verify whether they are dynamically stable as observed.Morphological and kinematic parameters were obtained based on the existing experimental data of the maple seed.Then the linearized equations of motion were derived,and the stability derivatives were calculated by a computational fluid dynamics method.The techniques of eigenvalue and eigenvector analysis were also used to examine the stability characteristics.It is found that there are five natural modes of motion of the maple seed:one stable oscillatory mode,one fast subsidence mode,one slow subsidence mode,and two neutral stable modes.The two neutral modes are manifested as the seed moving horizontally at a low speed under disturbance.Results show that the maple seed has dynamic stability in sustaining the steady autorotation and descent,exhibiting a minor horizontal motion when disturbed.These findings can beapplied to biomimetic aircraft.
