Dragonfly‐Inspired Flapping Wing Fabrication Using PVDF/CNT Nanocomposite Membranes and 3D ‐Printed Vein Structures

Insects have a thin membrane with complex venation patterns embedded within it, which provides them with exceptional stiffness, light weight, damping characteristics, and dynamic stability at low Reynolds numbers. One such example is the dragonfly, which possesses exceptional flight characteristics, such as hovering, backward flight, and long‐duration travel, making it an ideal inspiration for the development of Flapping Wing Micro Air Vehicles (FWMAVs). In this study, we draw inspiration from the Wandering Glider's ( Pantala flavescens ) wing to develop a bioinspired wing by integrating a PVDF/CNT membrane with a 3D‐printed vein architecture, aiming to mimic its mechanical and structural performance. Nanocomposite membranes were fabricated by solution casting, with the Carbon Nanotubes (CNT) content systematically varied from 0 to 2 wt%. An optimal composition (1.5 wt%) resulted in the highest reinforcing effect with Young's Modulus of 2.5 GPa and tensile strength of 55 MPa, and storage modulus exceeding 3500 MPa at 100 Hz. It exhibited a fundamental frequency of 30 Hz and showed an enhancement of 90 Hz upon integration of the vein structure. Full‐field displacement fields obtained using the 3D Digital Image Correlation (DIC) closely matched those from Abaqus simulations, demonstrating the dominant first‐bending mode with displacement increasing from the root to the tip. This study demonstrated the application of a PVDF/CNT nanocomposite membrane as a bioinspired membrane and the use of 3D printing to manufacture vein networks.