From Owl Flight to Future Wing Design

飞机的降噪，特别是在着陆阶段和大升力配置时的降噪，是未来机翼设计的主要目标之一。由于仓鸮以其安静的飞行而闻名，因此了解仓鸮翅膀降噪的机制并将其应用于新的机翼配置可以帮助实现这一目标。由于缺乏对猫头鹰翅膀产生的流场的详细调查，生物研究所和空气动力学研究所的联合项目的目标是找出决定猫头鹰低阻力和无声飞行的物理机制。生物学II研究所将使用显微技术记录猫头鹰翅膀和羽毛影响流场的具体特征。此外，还将确定羽毛的机械性能。利用这些数据，空气动力学研究所将制造各种有或没有气流影响装置的人造仓鸮翅膀。基于高速高分辨率粒子图像测速的速度测量将进行，以确定特定猫头鹰结构对整体流场的影响。在生物学和流体力学的联合努力下，将研究猫头鹰翅膀的基本气动特性和流体力学细节，这些特性和细节定义了猫头鹰翅膀的阻力和降噪机制。

Noise reduction of airplanes, especially during the landing phase and in high lift configuration, is one of the major goals of future wing design. Since the barn owl is very well known for its silent flight, an understanding of the mechanisms underlying noise reduction of the barn owl s wing and applying them to new wing configurations could help to reach this goal. Since a detailed investigation of the flow field generated by an owl s wing is missing, the objective of this joint project of the Institute for Biology If and the Institute of Aerodynamics is to figure out the physical mechanisms that determine the owl s low drag and silent flight. The Institute for Biology II will use microscopic techniques to document the specific features of the owls wings and feathers influencing the flow field. Furthermore, the mechanical properties of the feathers will be determined. Using these data the Institute of Aerodynamics will manufacture a variety of artificial barn owl wings with and without flow influencing devices. Velocity measurements based on high-speed high resolution particle-image velocimetry will be carried out to determine the impact of the specific owl structures on the overall flow field. In a joint biological and fluid mechanical effort the basic aerodynamic characteristics and the fluid mechanical details that define the drag and noise reduction mechanisms of owl wings, will be investigated.