Unsteady bio-fluid dynamics in flying and swimming

Flying and swimming in nature present sophisticated and exciting ventures in biomimetics, which seeks sustainable solutions and solves practical problems by emulating nature＇s time-tested patterns, functions, and strategies. Bio-fluids in insect and bird flight, as well as in fish swimming are highly dynamic and unsteady; however, they have been studied mostly with a focus on the phenomena associated with a body or wings moving in a steady flow. Characterized by unsteady wing flapping and body undulation, fluid-structure interactions, flexible wings and bodies, turbulent environments, and complex maneuver, bio-fluid dynamics normally have challenges associated with low Reynolds number regime and high unsteadiness in modeling and analysis of flow physics. In this article, we review and highlight recent advances in unsteady bio-fluid dynamics in terms of leading-edge vortices, passive mechanisms in flexible wings and hinges, flapping flight in unsteady environments, and micro-structured aerodynamics in flapping flight, as well as undulatory swimming, flapping-fin hydrodynamics, body–fin interac-tion, C-start and maneuvering, swimming in turbulence,collective swimming, and micro-structured hydrodynamics in swimming. We further give a perspective outlook on future challenges and tasks of several key issues of the field.

Collaborative optimization of linear vibrating screen screening efficiency and dynamic response stability based on coupled DEM-MBK simulation

The dynamic response stability of the vibrating screen is an important factor affecting the screening effect and the structural performance of the vibrating screen.In this paper,to improve dynamic response stability and screening efficiency,we optimized the configuration of linear screening process parameters based on the co-optimization method with dual objectives via the virtual experiment.Firstly,a coupled DEM-MBK simulation model was established according to the dynamics of linear screen,and the dy-namic response law of the screen machine under material impact was investigated.Secondly,the quantitative index of dynamic response stability according to the time-domain characteristics of the centroid amplitude was established.The trend and significance of three types of screening process pa-rameters,including excitation,damping and structure,on the screening efficiency and dynamic response stability were analyzed through virtual orthogonal experiments.Finally,a parameter configuration scheme to achieve co-optimization was proposed based on the comprehensive balance method.The virtual experiment results show that the screening efficiency and dynamic response stability of the proposed scheme are improved by 3.28%and 49.07%,respectively,compared with the empirical parameter configuration.Obviously,the co-optimization method can maintain high screening efficiency and dynamic response stability at the same time,which is beneficial to improve the service life of the screen surface and screen body.

Micromechanical investigation of granular ratcheting using a discrete model of polygonal particles

We use a two-dimensional model of polygonal particles to investigate granular ratcheting. Ratcheting is a long-term response of granular materials under cyclic loading, where the same amount of permanent deformation is accumulated after each cycle. We report on ratcheting for low frequencies and extremely small loading amplitudes. The evolution of the sub-network of sliding contacts allows us to understand the micromechanics of ratcheting. We show that the contact network evolves almost periodically under cyclic loading as the sub-network of the sliding contacts reaches different stages of anisotropy in each cycle. Sliding contacts lead to a monotonic accumulation of permanent deformation per cycle in each particle. The distribution of these deformations appears to be correlated in form of vortices inside the granular assembly.

The Unique Strategies of Flight Initiation Adopted by Butterflies on Vertical Surfaces

As the basis of flight behavior,the initiation process of insect flight is accompanied by a transition from crawling mode to flight mode,and is clearly important and complex.Insects take flight from a vertical surface,which is more difficult than takeoff from a horizontal plane,but greatly expands the space of activity and provides us with an excellent bionic model.In this study,the entire process of a butterfly alighting from a vertical surface was captured by a high-speed camera system,and the movements of its body and wings were accurately measured for the first time.After analyzing the movement of the center of mass,it was found that before initiation,the acceleration perpendicular to the wall was much greater than the acceleration parallel to the wall,reflecting the positive effects of the legs during the initiation process.However,the angular velocity of the body showed that this process was unstable,and was further destabilized as the flight speed increased.Comparing the angles between the body and the vertical direction before and after leaving the wall,a significant change in body posture was found,evidencing the action of aerodynamic forces on the body.The movement of the wings was further analyzed to obtain the laws of the three Euler angles,thus revealing the locomotory mechanism of the butterfly taking off from the vertical surface.