|
| |
|
|
|
|
||||
| Home Help Feedback Subscriptions Archive Search Table of Contents | ||||
A family of vortex wakes generated by a thrush nightingale in free flight in a wind tunnel over its entire natural range of flight speeds
1 Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Southern
California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-1191, USA
2 Department of Animal Ecology, Lund University, Ecology Building, SE-223 62
Lund, Sweden
* Author for correspondence (e-mail: geoff{at}usc.edu)
Accepted 2 April 2003
In view of the complexity of the wing-beat kinematics and geometry, an important class of theoretical models for analysis and prediction of bird flight performance entirely, or almost entirely, ignores the action of the wing itself and considers only the resulting motions in the air behind the bird. These motions can also be complicated, but some success has previously been recorded in detecting and measuring relatively simple wake structures that can sometimes account for required quantities used to estimate aerodynamic power consumption. To date, all bird wakes, measured or presumed, seem to fall into one of two classes: the closed-loop, discrete vortex model at low flight speeds, and the constant-circulation, continuous vortex model at moderate to high speeds. Here, novel and accurate quantitative measurements of velocity fields in vertical planes aligned with the freestream are used to investigate the wake structure of a thrush nightingale over its entire range of natural flight speeds. At most flight speeds, the wake cannot be categorised as one of the two standard types, but has an intermediate structure, with approximations to the closed-loop and constant-circulation models at the extremes. A careful accounting for all vortical structures revealed with the high-resolution technique permits resolution of the previously unexplained wake momentum paradox. All the measured wake structures have sufficient momentum to provide weight support over the wingbeat. A simple model is formulated and explained that mimics the correct, measured balance of forces in the downstroke- and upstroke-generated wake over the entire range of flight speeds. Pending further work on different bird species, this might form the basis for a generalisable flight model.
Key words: thrush nightingale, Luscinia luscinia, flight, aerodynamics, wake, wind tunnel, digital particle image velocimetry (DPIV)
CiteULike 
Complore 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us 
Digg 
Reddit 
Technorati 
Twitter What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  H. Schmaljohann and F. Liechti Adjustments of wingbeat frequency and air speed to air density in free-flying migratory birds J. Exp. Biol., November 15, 2009; 212(22): 3633 - 3642. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D. R. Warrick, B. W. Tobalske, and D. R. Powers Lift production in the hovering hummingbird Proc R Soc B, November 7, 2009; 276(1674): 3747 - 3752. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. C. Johansson and A. Hedenstrom The vortex wake of blackcaps (Sylvia atricapilla L.) measured using high-speed digital particle image velocimetry (DPIV) J. Exp. Biol., October 15, 2009; 212(20): 3365 - 3376. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
I. K. Bartol, P. S. Krueger, W. J. Stewart, and J. T. Thompson Hydrodynamics of pulsed jetting in juvenile and adult brief squid Lolliguncula brevis: evidence of multiple jet `modes' and their implications for propulsive efficiency J. Exp. Biol., June 15, 2009; 212(12): 1889 - 1903. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 L. C. Johansson, M. Wolf, and A. Hedenstrom A quantitative comparison of bird and bat wakes J R Soc Interface, March 25, 2009; (2009) rsif.2008.0541v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Iriarte-Diaz and S. M. Swartz Kinematics of slow turn maneuvering in the fruit bat Cynopterus brachyotis J. Exp. Biol., November 1, 2008; 211(21): 3478 - 3489. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. C. Johansson, M. Wolf, R. von Busse, Y. Winter, G. R. Spedding, and A. Hedenstrom The near and far wake of Pallas' long tongued bat (Glossophaga soricina) J. Exp. Biol., September 15, 2008; 211(18): 2909 - 2918. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Peng and J. O. Dabiri The `upstream wake' of swimming and flying animals and its correlation with propulsive efficiency J. Exp. Biol., August 15, 2008; 211(16): 2669 - 2677. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. M. Swartz, K. S. Breuer, and D. J. Willis Aeromechanics in aeroecology: flight biology in the aerosphere Integr. Comp. Biol., July 1, 2008; 48(1): 85 - 98. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Hedenstrom and G. Spedding Beyond robins: aerodynamic analyses of animal flight J R Soc Interface, June 6, 2008; 5(23): 595 - 601. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. Henningsson, G. R. Spedding, and A. Hedenstrom Vortex wake and flight kinematics of a swift in cruising flight in a wind tunnel J. Exp. Biol., March 1, 2008; 211(5): 717 - 730. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
B. W. Tobalske and A. A. Biewener Contractile properties of the pigeon supracoracoideus during different modes of flight J. Exp. Biol., January 15, 2008; 211(2): 170 - 179. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. R. Spedding, A. H. Hedenstrom, J. McArthur, and M. Rosen The implications of low-speed fixed-wing aerofoil measurements on the analysis and performance of flapping bird wings J. Exp. Biol., January 15, 2008; 211(2): 215 - 223. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Peng and J. O. Dabiri An overview of a Lagrangian method for analysis of animal wake dynamics J. Exp. Biol., January 15, 2008; 211(2): 280 - 287. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
B. W. Tobalske Biomechanics of bird flight J. Exp. Biol., September 15, 2007; 210(18): 3135 - 3146. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M Rosen, G.R Spedding, and A Hedenstrom Wake structure and wingbeat kinematics of a house-martin Delichon urbica J R Soc Interface, August 22, 2007; 4(15): 659 - 668. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
B. W. Tobalske, D. R. Warrick, C. J. Clark, D. R. Powers, T. L. Hedrick, G. A. Hyder, and A. A. Biewener Three-dimensional kinematics of hummingbird flight J. Exp. Biol., July 1, 2007; 210(13): 2368 - 2382. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
B. W. Tobalske and K. P. Dial Aerodynamics of wing-assisted incline running in birds J. Exp. Biol., May 15, 2007; 210(10): 1742 - 1751. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. Hedenstrom, L. C. Johansson, M. Wolf, R. von Busse, Y. Winter, and G. R. Spedding Bat Flight Generates Complex Aerodynamic Tracks Science, May 11, 2007; 316(5826): 894 - 897. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Peng, J. O. Dabiri, P. G. Madden, and G. V. Lauder Non-invasive measurement of instantaneous forces during aquatic locomotion: a case study of the bluegill sunfish pectoral fin J. Exp. Biol., February 15, 2007; 210(4): 685 - 698. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. M. Standen and G. V. Lauder Hydrodynamic function of dorsal and anal fins in brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) J. Exp. Biol., January 15, 2007; 210(2): 325 - 339. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
U. M. L. Norberg and Y. Winter Wing beat kinematics of a nectar-feeding bat, Glossophaga soricina, flying at different flight speeds and Strouhal numbers J. Exp. Biol., October 1, 2006; 209(19): 3887 - 3897. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A Hedenstrom, M Rosen, and G.R Spedding Vortex wakes generated by robins Erithacus rubecula during free flight in a wind tunnel J R Soc Interface, April 22, 2006; 3(7): 263 - 276. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. D. Tytell Median fin function in bluegill sunfish Lepomis macrochirus: streamwise vortex structure during steady swimming J. Exp. Biol., April 15, 2006; 209(8): 1516 - 1534. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. O. Dabiri On the estimation of swimming and flying forces from wake measurements J. Exp. Biol., September 15, 2005; 208(18): 3519 - 3532. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
F.-O. Lehmann, S. P. Sane, and M. Dickinson The aerodynamic effects of wing-wing interaction in flapping insect wings J. Exp. Biol., August 15, 2005; 208(16): 3075 - 3092. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. J. Stamhuis and S. Nauwelaerts Propulsive force calculations in swimming frogs II. Application of a vortex ring model to DPIV data J. Exp. Biol., April 15, 2005; 208(8): 1445 - 1451. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Soman, T. L. Hedrick, and A. A. Biewener Regional patterns of pectoralis fascicle strain in the pigeon Columba livia during level flight J. Exp. Biol., February 15, 2005; 208(4): 771 - 786. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. R. Usherwood, T. L. Hedrick, C. P. McGowan, and A. A. Biewener Dynamic pressure maps for wings and tails of pigeons in slow, flapping flight, and their energetic implications J. Exp. Biol., January 15, 2005; 208(2): 355 - 369. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. R. Lovvorn, Y. Watanuki, A. Kato, Y. Naito, and G. A. Liggins Stroke patterns and regulation of swim speed and energy cost in free-ranging Brunnich's guillemots J. Exp. Biol., December 15, 2004; 207(26): 4679 - 4695. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. J. Videler, E. J. Stamhuis, and G. D. E. Povel Leading-Edge Vortex Lifts Swifts Science, December 10, 2004; 306(5703): 1960 - 1962. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Rosen, G. R. Spedding, and A. Hedenstrom The relationship between wingbeat kinematics and vortex wake of a thrush nightingale J. Exp. Biol., November 15, 2004; 207(24): 4255 - 4268. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Ward, U. Moller, J. M. V. Rayner, D. M. Jackson, W. Nachtigall, and J. R. Speakman Metabolic power of European starlings Sturnus vulgaris during flight in a wind tunnel, estimated from heat transfer modelling, doubly labelled water and mask respirometry J. Exp. Biol., November 15, 2004; 207(24): 4291 - 4298. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. L. Hedrick, J. R. Usherwood, and A. A. Biewener Wing inertia and whole-body acceleration: an analysis of instantaneous aerodynamic force production in cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus) flying across a range of speeds J. Exp. Biol., April 15, 2004; 207(10): 1689 - 1702. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. W. Bundle and K. P. Dial Mechanics of wing-assisted incline running (WAIR) J. Exp. Biol., December 15, 2003; 206(24): 4553 - 4564. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. R. Usherwood, T. L. Hedrick, and A. A. Biewener The aerodynamics of avian take-off from direct pressure measurements in Canada geese (Branta canadensis) J. Exp. Biol., November 15, 2003; 206(22): 4051 - 4056. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
