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Journal of Experimental Biology 90,143-162 (1981)
Published by Company of Biologists 1981

An Aerodynamic Analysis of Bird Wings as Fixed Aerofoils

PHILIP C. WITHERS ¹

¹ Department of Biology, Portland State University, P.O. Box 751, Portland, Oregon 97207

The aerodynamic properties of bird wings were examined at Reynolds numbers of 1-5 x 10⁴ and were correlated with morphological parameters such as apsect ratio, camber, nose radius and position of maximum thickness. The many qualitative differences between the aerodynamic properties of bird, insect and aeroplane wings are attributable mainly to their differing Reynolds numbers. Bird wings, which operate at lower Reynolds numbers than aerofoils, have high minimum drag coefficients (0·03-0·13), low maximum lift coefficients (0·8-1·2) and low maximum lift/drag ratios (3-17). Bird and insect wings have low aerofoil efficiency factors (0·2-0·8) compared to conventional aerofoils (0·9-0·95) because of their low Reynolds numbers and high profile drag, rather than because of a reduced mechanical efficiency of animal wings.

For bird wings there is clearly a trade-off between lift and drag performance. Bird wings with low drag generally had low maximum lift coefficients whereas wings with high maximum lift coefficients had high drag coefficients. The pattern of air flow over bird wings, as indicated by pressure-distribution data, is consistent with aerodynamic theory for aeroplane wings at low Reynolds numbers, and with the observed lift and drag coefficients.

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