The impact of wing planform on the unsteady dynamics during rapidly pitching plates in decelerating motion.

Natural flyers, such as birds, dynamically morph their wings to optimize wing configurations, especially during perching maneuvers that involve rapid pitch-up while decelerating to a complete stop. During this rapid pitching in decelerating motion, birds sweep their wings backward and forward. How these wing planforms aerodynamically benefit the perching maneuver remains unclear. This study investigates the functioning significance of these morphing wing platforms in the perching maneuver, focusing on the unsteady dynamics and the vortex evolution. We particularly investigate the impact of non-uniform wing curvature on the vortex dynamics and its associated unsteady aerodynamic forces (lift and drag). By analyzing the intricate interplay between wing shapes and vortex dynamics, we aim to enhance understanding of perching maneuver performance.