Abstract:
This study leverages CFD simulations in ANSYS Fluent to analyze the aerodynamic performance of two distinct bird tail morphologies—rounded and forked. The primary goal of the research was to calculate key aerodynamic parameters such as lift and drag coefficients, as well as the lift-to-drag ratio, which are essential for assessing the efficiency of flight. The geometric models of the bird tails were meticulously designed in CATIA software, ensuring precise 3D representation of both tail types. The simulations were conducted at various angles of attack to capture the bird model’s performance under different flight conditions. A rigorous mesh convergence study was also performed to guarantee that the results were both accurate and reliable. Through these simulations, the study identified the stall angles and optimal performance points for both tail shapes, providing a comprehensive understanding of their aerodynamic behavior in real-world flight scenarios.
The results indicate that the form of the tail plays a crucial role in the bird’s overall aerodynamic efficiency. Both the rounded and forked tail designs exhibited unique aerodynamic characteristics, each showing specific advantages depending on the flight conditions. For example, certain tail configurations may offer better performance at low speeds, while others excel at higher velocities. The findings underscore the importance of optimizing the tail shape to achieve a higher lift-to-drag ratio, which is a critical factor in improving flight dynamics. This detailed CFD analysis, combined with manual calculations, enhances our understanding of bird flight aerodynamics, providing valuable insights for future studies in the field of bio-inspired flight design, potentially leading to more efficient aircraft and drone designs.
Aim:
This research employs computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations to investigate the aerodynamic performance of bird tail shapes with varying orientations. By simulating different tail morphologies and their positions relative to airflow, the study aims to analyze how these variations impact key aerodynamic factors such as lift, drag, and overall flight efficiency. Detailed calculations are performed to determine the lift and drag coefficients, as well as the lift-to-drag ratio, for each tail design at various angles of attack. The study provides insights into how the tail’s shape and orientation contribute to the overall performance of flight, shedding light on the relationship between tail morphology and aerodynamic efficiency, which could inspire future advancements in bio-inspired flight technology and design optimization.
Objectives:
The first step in this study is to identify the distinct aerodynamic features of a bird, focusing on the tail and wing structures, which are pivotal in determining flight dynamics. Key geometric parameters, such as the length, width, aspect ratio of the tail, and wing measurements, are documented in detail to establish a comprehensive understanding of the bird’s morphology. These measurements form the foundation for further analysis, ensuring that the computational models accurately reflect the physical characteristics that influence flight. Once the bird’s key features are identified, a detailed 3D model is created using CAD software to represent the bird’s anatomy. This model will serve as the basis for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, capturing the bird’s tail and wing structures precisely to analyze the interaction between airflow and these aerodynamic surfaces.
With the 3D model in place, a CFD framework is implemented to simulate airflow over the bird’s structure, focusing on how variations in tail shape and orientation influence aerodynamic performance, including lift and drag characteristics. The study examines different tail configurations to optimize speed, reduce drag, and enhance lift, providing insights into how these features can improve flight efficiency. Through this process, the research aims to identify optimal tail shapes that can be applied not only to better understand biological flight mechanics but also to inform engineering applications in flight dynamics. Finally, basic calculations for drag and lift forces are performed on the bird model, which are validated using numerical methods to ensure the accuracy of the aerodynamic analysis and deepen the understanding of how these forces influence the bird’s flight capabilities.
