<p>Flapping insect wings frequently collide with vegetation and other obstacles during flight. &nbsp;Repeated collisions may irreversibly damage the insect wing, thereby compromising the insect’s ability to fly. &nbsp;Further, reaction torques caused by the collision may destabilize the insect and hinder its ability to maneuver. &nbsp;To mitigate the adverse effects of impact, some insect wings are equipped with a flexible joint called a “costal break.” The costal break buckles once it exceeds a critical angle, which is believed to improve flight stability and prevent irreversible wing damage. &nbsp;However, to our knowledge, there are no models to predict the dynamics of the costal break. &nbsp;Through this research, we develop a simple model of an insect wing with a costal break. &nbsp;The wing is modeled as two beams interconnected by a torsional spring, where the stiffness of the torsional spring instantaneously decreases once it has exceeded a critical angle. &nbsp;We conduct a series of static tests to approximate model parameters. &nbsp;Then, we used numerical simulation to estimate the peak stresses and reaction moments experienced by the wing during a collision. &nbsp;We found that costal break increased the wing’s natural frequency by about 50% compared to a homogeneous wing and thus reduced the stress associated with normal flapping. &nbsp;Buckling did not significantly affect peak stresses during collision. &nbsp;Joint buckling reduced the peak reaction moment by about 32%, suggesting that the costal break enhances flight stability. &nbsp; &nbsp;</p>

Insect Wing Buckling Influences Stress and Stability During Collisions

Paper Proceedings: https://asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/IDETC-CIE/IDETC-CIE2021/volume/85369

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