Aerodynamic performance analysis of tandem-winged configuration during dragonfly flight

The dragonfly possesses flight skills unparalleled by other flying creatures. It is a typical representative of insects with a distinctive serial flapping flight. The wing configuration of dragonflies exhibits excellent aerodynamic characteristics. This research field holds promising applications in various sectors, including military and civilian domains. To further investigate the influence of a dragonfly's single wing versus a tandem double-wing on aerodynamic performance, this study constructed biomimetic wing models for both single and tandem configurations. MATLAB was employed for simulating aerodynamic lift, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods were applied using Fluent CFD analysis software to numerically simulate the wing models. This study investigates the aerodynamic characteristics and mechanisms of single and tandem wings at a flapping frequency of 30Hz. The results indicated that, at an angle of attack of 10° and an incoming flow velocity of 5m/s, the maximum lift of the tandem wing is three times higher than that of the single wing. The tandem wing configuration demonstrates improved aerodynamic performance compared to the two single wing configurations. This further unveils the flight mechanism of dragonflies, providing a theoretical foundation for Flapping- Wing Micro Air Vehicles (FMAVs). The findings have practical implications for the design and development of FMAVs, offering valuable insights into flight principles.