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Journal of Experimental Biology 83,59-77 (1979)
Published by Company of Biologists 1979

The Role of Vortices and Unsteady Effects During the Hovering Flight of Dragonflies

STUART B. SAVAGE ¹, BARRY G. NEWMAN ², and DENIS T.-M. WONG ²

¹ Department of Civil Engineering and Applied Mechanics
² Department of Mechanical Engineering, McGill University Montreal H3A 2K6, Québec

Weis-Fogh and Norberg concluded that steady-state aerodynamics is incapable of explaining how the dragonfly supports its weight during hovering. Norberg also concluded that the wing kinematics of Aeschna juncea L., as determined photographically, are incompatible with those proposed by Weis-Fogh for his Flip mechanism. The present paper has proposed an alternative lift-generating mechanism, various aspects of which are novel from the standpoint of animal flight. Flow visualization tests performed in water established the flow field during a complete cycle of the idealized wing motion. Using this information and unsteady inviscid flow theory the forces were analysed. A plausible balance of horizontal forces and more than sufficient lift were obtained. A physical explanation of the theory is provided for those who do not wish to study the mathematical details.

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