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Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Experimental Investigation of the Flow Structure over a Delta Wing Via Flow Visualization Methods

Experimental Investigation of the Flow Structure over a Delta Wing Via Flow Visualization Methods

Published on: April 23, 2018

Vortex interactions with flapping wings and fins can be unpredictable.

David Lentink¹, Gertjan F Van Heijst, Florian T Muijres

¹Experimental Zoology Group, Wageningen University, 6709 PG Wageningen, The Netherlands. david.lentink@wur.nl

Biology Letters

|February 5, 2010

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Animal locomotion generates vortex wakes. This study reveals that chaotic vortex wakes at high Strouhal numbers limit force prediction, while periodic wakes at lower numbers offer unlimited prediction, suggesting active control by animals.

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Area of Science:

Fluid dynamics
Bio-inspired locomotion
Animal biomechanics

Background:

Animals generate vortex wakes during locomotion, influencing propulsive forces.
Previous research indicates vortex-wake interactions can enhance propulsion.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate if vortex-wake interaction dynamics affect the predictability of propulsive forces.
To explore the relationship between Strouhal numbers and wake predictability in flapping foils.

Main Methods:

Studied a pitching and heaving foil in a soap-film tunnel.
Analyzed phase-locked movie sequences to observe vortex-wake interactions.
Examined wake dynamics across a range of Strouhal numbers.

Main Results:

Chaotic vortex-wake interactions were observed at high Strouhal numbers, characteristic of hovering animals.
These chaotic wakes limit the predictability (forecast horizon) of forces and moments.
Periodic vortex wakes, observed at lower Strouhal numbers (0.2-0.4) typical for cruising animals, showed an unlimited forecast horizon.

Conclusions:

The predictability of propulsive forces is influenced by the dynamics of vortex-wake interactions.
Animals may control the predictability of their locomotion forces by modulating their fin/wing kinematics and thus the Strouhal number.
Findings suggest a mechanism for active control over propulsive force predictability in biological systems.