Tag: insect flight

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Aeroelasticity of insect-inspired flapping wings with anisotropic rigidity

C. García-Baena, R. Antier, C. Gutiérrez-Montes, J. I. Jiménez-González, B. Thiria, R. Godoy-Diana. Journal of Bionic Engineering 23, 1464–1475 (2026).
doi: 10.1007/s42235-026-00882-1

In this collaborative work with colleagues from Universidad de Jaén, we studied the aerodynamics of a flexible wing with a two-vein pattern that mimics the structural anisotropy and elastic response of insect wings in a simplified manner. Previous work (Antier et al. J. Fluids Struct. 2024) had revealed a non-monotonic variation in the thrust force produced by the wings as the angle between the two veins varied. An optimal configuration in terms of mean thrust force is systematically achieved when the two veins are spaced at an angle of approximately 20 degrees. This value falls within the range measured in the literature for several insect species. Through simultaneous measurements of 3D deformation and aerodynamic forces (see figure below), we demonstrated that the stiffness distribution, controlled by the angle between the two main veins, allows for passive control of the kinematic phase shift between the leading and trailing edges, maximizing thrust at this 15–20 degree angle.

A: Diagram of the experimental setup: model wings with the vein skeleton marked in black, one vein along the leading edge and the other diagonally with an inter-vein angle β, indicated in blue; the dot pattern used for 3D tracking is shown on the right wing. Three high-speed cameras are used for tracking. B: Front view of the system mounted on the force sensor, where the flapping amplitude ψ₀ is indicated in blue. C: Several superimposed snapshots illustrating the wing flapping motion. D: 3D deformation of the wing at 8 different positions of interest in the flapping cycle (flapping frequency 15 Hz): minimum thrust between upstroke and downstroke (A), minimum lift (B), maximum downward thrust (C), zero downward lift (D), minimum upward thrust (E), maximum lift (F), maximum upward thrust (G), and zero upward lift (H), for inter-vein angles (a) β=10°, (b) β=20°, and (c) β=45°. The color bar indicates the dimensionless displacement of the points in the Z direction perpendicular to the ground, which is zero when the wing is parallel to the ground.

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Aerodynamic consequences of wing damage in dragonfly flapping flight


P. Yu, R. Godoy-Diana, B. Thiria, D. Kolomenskiy, T. Engels
Journal of the Royal Society Interface 23: 20250659 (2026).
doi: 10.1098/rsif.2025.0659

Flapping wings are the primary means by which dragonflies generate forces, but they are susceptible to damage due to their inherent fragility. The damage results in a reduction in wing area and a distortion of the original wing, which in turn leads to a decline in flight ability. Furthermore, the flows of dragonfly forewings and hindwings exhibit an interaction; thus, damage to the forewing can also impact the aerodynamic performance of the ipsilateral hindwing. In this study, we examine this problem through computational fluid dynamics simulations on a series of damaged dragonfly forewing/hindwing models according to the probability of area loss from the literature. The flow fields and aerodynamic forces for the different damaged wing cases are compared with those for the intact wings. This comparative analysis reveals how the different patterns of wing damage modify the vortex structures around the flapping wings and lead to a drop in aerodynamic force production. The causes behind the diminishing aerodynamic performance are shown to be subtler than the pure area loss and are regulated by the changes in the flow field that result from wing damage. Wing–wing interaction becomes particularly important when forewing damage occurs.

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Subtle frequency matching reveals resonant phenomenon in the flight of Odonata

C. Aracheloff, R. Garrouste, A. Nel, R. Godoy-Diana, B. Thiria
Journal of the Royal Society Interface 21, 20240401 (2024).
doi: 10.1098/rsif.2024.0401

We investigated the connection between the flight flapping frequency and the intrinsic wing properties in Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies). For such large flying insect species, it has been noted that the wingbeat frequency is significantly lower than the structural resonance of the wing itself. However, the structural resonance mechanism is often evoked in the literature for flying and swimming animals as a means to increase locomotion performance. Here, we show that the flight of Odonata is based on a nonlinear mechanism that strongly depends on the wingbeat amplitude. For large flapping amplitudes (as observed in natural flight), the resonant frequency of the wings decreases with respect to its value at low amplitudes to eventually match the wingbeat frequency used in flight. By means of this nonlinear resonance, Odonata keep a strong wing stiffness while benefiting from a passive energy-saving mechanism based on the dynamic softening of the wing.

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Thrust force is tuned by the rigidity distribution in insect-inspired flapping wings

R. Antier, B. Thiria, & R. Godoy-Diana
Journal of Fluids and Structures, 124, 104043 (2024).
doi: 10.1016/j.jfluidstructs.2023.104043

We study the aerodynamics of a flapping flexible wing with a two-vein pattern that mimics the elastic response of insect wings in a simplified manner. The experiments reveal a non-monotonic variation of the thrust force produced by the wings when the angle between the two veins is varied. An optimal configuration is consistently reached when the two veins are spaced at an angle of about 20 degrees. This value is in the range of what has been measured in the literature for several insect species. The deformation of the wings is monitored during the experiment using video recordings, which allows to pinpoint the physical mechanism behind the non-monotonic behaviour of the force curve and the optimal distribution of the vein network in terms of propulsive force.

2-wing flapping system mounted on a force sensor
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Divergence of climbing escape flight performance in Morpho butterflies living in different microhabitats

C. Le Roy, N. J. Silva, R. Godoy-Diana, V. Debat, V. Llaurens, and F. T. Muijres
Journal of Experimental Biology 225 (15), jeb243867 (2022)
doi: 10.1242/jeb.243867

Morpho butterflies are iconic insects of the Amazonian rainforest. Some Morpho species live in the dense vegetation of the understory (e.g. Morpho amathonte, cover photo) while other species inhabit the open canopy. We investigated how the divergent microhabitat specialization influences the evolution of flight performance. Quantification of climbing flight kinematics among closely related butterfly species living in different strata revealed markedly higher climbing ability in canopy species, probably resulting from divergent flight behaviour and morphology. Photo credit: Vincent Debat.

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Review paper: Insect and insect-inspired aerodynamics

Image credit: T. Engels (see also Engels et al. Physical Review Fluids 4, 013103, 2019)

 
 
 
 
 
 

Insect and insect-inspired aerodynamics: unsteadiness, structural mechanics and flight control
R. Bomphrey & R. Godoy-Diana
Current Opinion in Insect Science 30, 26–32 (2018)
[doi:10.1016/j.cois.2018.08.003]

Flying insects impress by their versatility and have been a recurrent source of inspiration for engineering devices. A large body of literature has focused on various aspects of insect flight, with an essential part dedicated to the dynamics of flapping wings and their intrinsically unsteady aerodynamic mechanisms. Insect wings flex during flight and a better understanding of structural mechanics and aeroelasticity is emerging. Most recently, insights from solid and fluid mechanics have been integrated with physiological measurements from visual and mechanosensors in the context of flight control in steady airs and through turbulent conditions. We review the key recent advances concerning flight in unsteady environments and how the multi-body mechanics of the insect structure — wings and body — are at the core of the flight control question. The issues herein should be considered when applying bio-informed design principles to robotic flapping wings.

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Four-winged flapping flyer in forward flight

mite4ailes Four-winged flapping flyer in forward flight
R. Godoy-Diana, P. Jain, M. Centeno, A. Weinreb & B. Thiria
In Klapp et al. (eds.), Selected Topics of Computational and Experimental Fluid Mechanics, Environmental Science and Engineering, pp. 147-158. Springer (2015).
[doi:10.1007/978-3-319-11487-3_8] PDF file

We study experimentally a four-winged flapping flyer with chord-wise flexible wings in a self-propelled setup. For a given physical configuration of the flyer (i.e. fixed distance between the forewing and hindwing pairs and fixed wing flexibility), we explore the kinematic parameter space constituted by the flapping frequency and the forewing-hindwing phase lag. Continue reading “Four-winged flapping flyer in forward flight”

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Habilitation à diriger des recherches (HDR)

Bio-inspired swimming and flying – Vortex dynamics and fluid/structure interaction

Ramiro Godoy-Diana
Habilitation à diriger des recherches, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 2014.
[hal.archives-ouvertes.fr]

PDF file here (19.4 MB)

The present document, prepared in view of obtaining the Habilitation à diriger des recherches, reviews my main research subject at PMMH since 2006, which concerns the study of swimming and flying inspired by nature. Canonical examples of flapping flight and undulatory swimming are explored using simplified experimental models as a starting point. This allows for the discussion of some fundamental questions related to the physics of bio-inspired locomotion at “intermediate” Reynolds numbers. In particular, we address the strong fluid-structure interactions that arise in these problems, where we have focused on: simplified models of flapping foils in hydrodynamic tunnel experiments, especially in the dynamics of vorticity in the wake of an oscillating foil ; mechanical models of flapping flyers with flexible wings in a self-propelled configuration (in the spirit of the pioneer experiments of Etienne-Jules Marey), as well as novel experimental models of undulatory swimming.
Continue reading “Habilitation à diriger des recherches (HDR)”

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Force balance in the take-off of a pierid butterfly


montage_Pieris_rapaeForce balance in the take-off of a pierid butterfly: relative importance and timing of leg impulsion and aerodynamic forces

G. Bimbard, D. Kolomenskiy, O. Bouteleux, J. Casas & R. Godoy-Diana.
Journal of Experimental Biology, 216 : 3551-3563 (2013).

Abstract: Up to now, the take-off stage remains an elusive phase of insect flight relatively poorly explored compared to other maneuvers. An overall assessment of the different mechanisms involved in the force production during take-off has never been explored. Focusing on the first downstroke, we have addressed this problem from a force balance perspective in butterflies taking-off from the ground. Continue reading “Force balance in the take-off of a pierid butterfly”

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Behind the performance of flapping wing flyers

flapping_wingRather than resonance, flapping wing flyers may play on aerodynamics to improve performance
S. Ramananarivo; R. Godoy-Diana & B. Thiria.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA), 108 (15): 5964-5969 (2011).

Abstract: Saving energy and enhancing performance are secular preoccupations shared by both nature and human beings. In animal locomotion, flapping flyers or swimmers rely on the flexibility of their wings or body to passively increase their efficiency using an appropriate cycle of storing and releasing elastic energy. Despite the convergence of many observations pointing out this feature, the underlying mechanisms explaining how the elastic nature of the wings is related to propulsive efficiency remain unclear. Here we use an experiment with a self-propelled simplified insect model allowing to show how wing compliance governs the performance of flapping flyers. Continue reading “Behind the performance of flapping wing flyers”

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Bending to fly

How wing compliance drives the efficiency of self-propelled flapping flyers
B. Thiria & R. Godoy-Diana.
Physical Review E, 82 : 015303(R) (2010).
*arXiv preprint blogged in MIT Technology Review (March 2, 2010)
*Also referenced in Vir. J. Bio. Phys. Res. / Volume 20 / Issue 3 / (August 1, 2010)

 

Abstract: Wing flexibility governs the flying performance of flapping-wing flyers. Here, we use a self-propelled flapping-wing model mounted on a ”merry go roun” to investigate the effect of wing compliance on the propulsive efficiency of the system. Continue reading “Bending to fly”