Aerodynamic Multiobjective Design Exploration of Flapping Wing Using a Navier-Stokes Solver

An aerodynamic design optimization problem of a three-dimensional flapping wing is explored with the multiobjective design exploration framework coupled with a Navier-Stokes solver. The results show that there is a tradeoff among lift maximization, thrust maximization, and required power minimization. The results also show that strong vortex is generated in both down stroke and up stroke motions for thrust maximization while strong vortex is generated only in down stroke motion for lift maximization. This study also reveals effects of the design parameters on the design objectives, for example, pitch offset has positive linear relationship to the lift.