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Bio-Inspired Propulsion
Butterfly Takeoff
We utilize an integrated experimental and computational approach to study the flow physics underlying complex biological locomotion.

Dragonfly Turning Maneuver
We integrated high-speed photogrammetry, 3D surface reconstruction, and immersed-boundary-method-based numerical simulations to explore the underlying flow physics of freely flying dragonfly in turning maneuver.


Chengyu Li and Haibo Dong, "Wing kinematics measurement and aerodynamics of a dragonfly in turning flight," Bioinspiration & Biomimetics 12, 026001 (2017). [Link]
Pitching-Rolling Plate
The wake topology and propulsive performance of low-aspect-ratio plates undergoing a pitching-rolling motion in a uniform stream were numerically investigated by an in-house immersed-boundary-method-based incompressible Navier-Stokes equation solver.


Chengyu Li and Haibo Dong, "Three-dimensional wake topology and propulsive performance of low-aspect-ratio pitching-rolling plates," Physics of Fluids 28, 071901 (2016). [Link]
Effects of a Dynamic Trailing-edge Flap in Hovering Flight
To examine the effects of wing morphing on unsteady aerodynamics, deformable flapping plates were numerically studied in a low-Reynolds-number flow.

Positive dynamic camber

Negative dynamic camber
Chengyu Li, Haibo Dong, and Geng Liu, "Effects of a dynamic trailing-edge flap on the aerodynamic performance and flow structures in hovering flight," Journal of Fluids and Structures 58, 49-65 (2015). [Link]
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