Animal Flight Group

Fluid Dynamics

dragonfly flow visualization

The Fluid Dynamics Group is led by Prof Adrian Thomas.

Selected Publications

Young, J., Walker, S. M., Bomphrey, R. J., Taylor, G. K. & Thomas, A. L. R. (2009). Details of insect wing design and deformation enhance aerodynamic function and flight efficiency. Science. 325, 1549-1552.

Bomphrey, R. J., Taylor, G. K., Thomas, A. L. R. (2009) Smoke visualization of free-flying bumblebees indicates independent leading-edge vortices on each wing pair. Exp. Fluids 46, 811-821. Published online before print April 2, 2009, doi: 10.1007/s00348-009-0631-8

Carruthers, A. C., Thomas, A. L. R. & Taylor, G. K. (2007). Automatic aeroelastic devices in the wings of a Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis. J. Exp. Biol. 210, 4136-4149. doi: 10.1242/jeb.011197

Bomphrey, R. J., Harding, N. J., Lawson, N. J., Taylor, G. K., & Thomas, A. L. R. (2005). The aerodynamics of Manduca sexta: digital particle image velocimetry of the leading-edge vortex, J. Exp. Biol., 208, 1079–1094. doi:10.1242/jeb.01471

Thomas, A. L. R., Taylor, G. K., Srygley, R. B., Nudds, R. L. & Bomphrey, R. J. (2004). Dragonfly flight: free-flight and tethered flow visualizations reveal a diverse array of unsteady lift-generating mechanisms, controlled primarily via angle of attack. J. Exp. Biol. 207, 4299-4323. doi:10.1242/jeb.01262

Taylor, G. K., Nudds, R. L., & Thomas, A. L. R. (2003). Flying and swimming animals cruise at a Strouhal number tuned for high power efficiency. Nature 425, 707-711. doi: 10.1038/nature02000

Thomas, A. L. R. & Srygley, R. B. (2002). Unconventional lift-generating mechanisms in free-flying butterflies. Nature 420, 660-664. doi:10.1038/nature01223

Webmaster | ©2008 Oxford University