Detachment of leading-edge vortex enhances wake capture force production

During stroke reversals, insect wings interact with their own wake flow from the preceding half-stroke, resulting in an unsteady aerodynamic mechanism known as ‘wing–wake interaction’ or ‘wake capture’. To better elucidate this mechanism, we numerically solved the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations at Reynolds numbers 10² and 10³. Simulations were conducted for wing planforms defined using the beta function distribution with varying aspect ratios (AR=2x20136) and radial centroid locations (r₁=0. 4x20130. 6), whilst employing representative normal hovering kinematics. The wake development from the considered flapping wing planforms was investigated, and the wake capture contribution to aerodynamic force production was quantified by comparing the force generation between the fifth and first stroke cycles at multiple sections along the wingspan. Our results revealed that on the inboard wing region experiencing an attached leading-edge vortex (LEV) structure, wing–wake interaction is dominated by an unsteady downwash effect, resulting in a reduction in local force production. However, in regions closer to the wingtip experiencing detachment of the LEV, wing–wake interaction is dominated by an unsteady upwash effect, leading to an increase in local force production. Consequently, the global wake capture force production is controlled by the extent of LEV detachment, which primarily increases with the increase of wing aspect ratio. This suggests that for normal hovering flapping wings, the typical loss in translational force production due to wingtip stall is partially mitigated by wake capture effects.