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Vortex wakes of birds: recent developments using digital particle image velocimetry in a wind tunnel

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Author

Summary, in English

A flying animal generates a trail of wake vortices that contain information about the time history and magnitude of aerodynamic forces developed on the wings and body. Methods for visualising and recording wake vortices have been developed, allowing quantitative measurements by digital particle image velocimetry (DPIV). Results from DPIV experiments in a wind tunnel are presented for four passerine species of differing size and morphology. The normalised vorticity and its integrated quantity, circulation (Gamma) both decline gradually with increasing flight speed. The measured circulations are successfully explained by a simple aerodynamic model where a normalised circulation, Gamma/Uc, represents half the time-averaged lift coefficient, which is > 2 at 4 m s(-1) for a thrush nightingale.

Department/s

Publishing year

2006

Language

English

Pages

535-549

Publication/Series

Animal Biology

Volume

56

Issue

4

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Brill

Topic

  • Biological Sciences

Keywords

  • added mass
  • bird flight
  • digital particle image
  • velocimetry
  • DPIV
  • vortex wakes
  • aerodynamics

Status

Published

Research group

  • Animal Flight Lab

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1570-7555