Aerodynamics of a two-dimensional flapping wing hovering in proximity of ground

The difference in aerodynamic forces of a two-dimensional flapping wing hovering in unbounded flow field and ground effect is studied. The unsteady laminar Navier–Stokes equations are solved by the finite volume method to simulate the flow field around the wing. In the unbounded flow field, the correspondence between the aerodynamic force, pressure distribution on wing, and typical vortex structures is established, and then the high-lift mechanism of the flapping wing is further explained. In the ground effect, based on the lift variation, the dimensionless height H/C (H is the height of the wing above ground and C is the chord length of the wing) can be divided into transition and ground effect regimes. In the transition regime (H/C > 2.5), the lift decreases with the decreasing height, and the ground indirectly impacts the vortices near wing by changing the shed vortices in space. In the ground effect regime (H/C < 2.5), the lift increases with the decreasing height, and the ground directly impacts the vortices near the wing.