Seminar Details
2019-10-29 (14:00) : Gait parametrization and limit cycle stability of flapping bird flight
At Euler building (room A.002)
Organized by Mathematical Engineering
Speaker :
Gianmarco Ducci (UCLouvain (IMMC))
Abstract :
The biomechanics of birds is of crucial interest for modern engineering applications. Indeed, flapping birds display the ability of maintaining a stable flight in a continuously perturbed environment, while executing complex maneuvers.
We developed a method identifying trimmed flight conditions for flapping wings. These particular conditions correspond to limit cycles in the state space domain, with the same period as the flapping input. Our method is based on a multiple-shooting algorithm that can simultaneously identify unknown limit cycles of the longitudinal equations of bird s motion, and assess its stability relying on Floquet theory.
This framework further employs a lifting line aerodynamic model developed in the group of fluid mechanics at UCLouvain. Consequently, sensitivity analysis of gait configurations as a function of the wing kinematic parameters can be conducted.
Results suggest that birds should continuously rely on feedback control scheme to achieve steady-state flapping flight, and possible solutions to achieve such flight stabilization are discussed.