Coherent Vortex Simulation of Flapping Flight in Turbulence

• Applicant: Dr.-Ing. Mathias Lemke
• Subject Area: Fluid Mechanics
• Term: since 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 529979103

The aerodynamics of flapping flight is an interdisciplinary multiphysics and multiscale problem, which makes it a challenge for numerical simulations. It involves the physical fields of fluid- and solid mechanics in close interaction with one another, and the flow field involves a multitude of active scales across several orders of magnitude. This multiscale character calls for suitable numerical methods: we propose coherent vorticity simulation in this proposal. The coupling between solid and fluid calls for special treatment as well, for which we suggest to extend the volume penalization method. Besides an improved convergence and lowered numerical cost, this opens the door for new applications such as insect aeroacoustics. It is also a prerequisite for employing reinforcement learning. We will use this machine learning technique to obtain the first virtual animal capable of flying stably in turbulence.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: France
• Cooperation Partners: Dr.-Ing. Thomas Engels; Professor Dr. Kai Schneider