Elements in Aerospace Engineering – serie

This Element presents a unified computational fluid dynamics framework from rarefied to continuum regimes. The framework is based on the direct modelling of flow physics in a discretized space. The mesh size and time step are used as modelling scales in the construction of discretized governing equations. With the variation-of-cell Knudsen number, continuous modelling equations in different regimes have been obtained, and the Boltzmann and Navier-Stokes equations become two limiting equations in the kinetic and hydrodynamic scales. The unified algorithms include the discrete velocity method (DVM)-based unified gas-kinetic scheme (UGKS), the particlebased unified gas-kinetic particle method (UGKP), and the wave and particle-based unified gas-kinetic wave-particle method (UGKWP). The UGKWP is a multi-scale method with the particle for non-equilibrium transport and wave for equilibrium evolution. The particle dynamics in the rarefied regime and the hydrodynamic flow solver in the continuum regime have been unified according to the cell's Knudsen number.

Insect-scale flapping wing flight vehicles can conduct environmental monitoring, disaster assessment, mapping, positioning and security in complex and challenging surroundings. To develop bio-inspired flight vehicles, systematic probing based on the particular category of flight vehicles is needed. This Element addresses the aerodynamics, aeroelasticity, geometry, stability and dynamics of flexible flapping wings in the insect flight regime. The authors highlight distinct features and issues, contrast aerodynamic stability between rigid and flexible wings, present the implications of the wing-aspect ratio, and use canonical models and dragonflies to elucidate scientific insight as well as technical capabilities of bio-inspired design.