Aerodynamic characteristics of a hovering moquito wing

We numerically investigate the aerodynamic characteristics of a hovering mosquito wing. To understand the role of the deviation motion in its flapping kinematics, we perform a separate simulation without deviation motion and compare the results with those with deviation motion. The deviation motion significantly changes the angle of attack, which greatly influences the instantaneous force and power generation. In particular, the wing with deviation motion produces a large drag force at the beginning of each half-stroke by increasing the angle of attack. Furthermore, the wing uses the drag force to enhance the vertical force, and maintains positive vertical force during a whole flapping period. The present result indicates that the mosquito wing generates a larger vertical force more efficiently by including the deviation motion.