Unsteady Aerodynamics in Bio-Inspired Flapping Wings for Low-Density Environments

Flapping-wing flight offers a promising solution for aerial mobility in low-density environments such as the Martian atmosphere, where conventional rotorcraft faces significant performance constraints. However, the coupled aerodynamic and structural mechanisms governing lift generation at low Reynolds numbers remain insufficiently understood. This study investigates the aeroelastic and unsteady aerodynamic behaviour of a bio-inspired flapping wing using an integrated experimental-numerical framework. High-speed imaging is employed to extract representative wing kinematics, including flapping frequency, stroke amplitude, and rotational motion. A geometrically scaled wing model is developed based on Reynolds number similitude and analysed using finite element methods to characterise its dynamic response. Aeroelastic behaviour is evaluated through modal transient simulations, while aerodynamic performance is assessed using both vortex-lattice modelling and computational fluid dynamics. The results show strong coupling between bending and torsional modes, with the structural response highly dependent on excitation frequency relative to the natural modes. Near-resonant conditions lead to amplified deformation and distinct phase relationships, while aerodynamic simulations reveal vortex-dominated lift generation. These findings provide a physics-based framework for the design and analysis of flapping-wing systems operating in low-Reynolds-number and low-density flight regimes.