Biomedical subjects

Nicholas J Lawson

Publications and source records attributed to Nicholas J Lawson.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

High-speed photogrammetry system for measuring the kinematics of insect wings.

We describe and characterize an experimental system to perform shape measurements on deformable objects using high-speed close-range photogrammetry. The eventual application is to extract the kinematics of several marked points on an insect wing during tethered and hovering flight. We investigate the performance of the system with a small number of views and determine an empirical relation between the mean pixel error of the optimization routine and the position error. Velocity and acceleration are calculated by numerical differencing, and their relation to the position errors is verified. For a field of view of approximately 40 mm x 40 mm, a rms accuracy of 30 mum in position, 150 mm/s in velocity, and 750 m/s2 in acceleration at 5000 frames/s is achieved. This accuracy is sufficient to measure the kinematics of hoverfly flight.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Digital particle image velocimetry measurements of the downwash distribution of a desert locust Schistocerca gregaria.

Actuator disc models of insect flight are concerned solely with the rate of momentum transfer to the air that passes through the disc. These simple models assume that an even pressure is applied across the disc, resulting in a uniform downwash distribution. However, a correction factor, k, is often included to correct for the difference in efficiency between the assumed even downwash distribution, and the real downwash distribution. In the absence of any empirical measurements of the downwash distribution behind a real insect, the values of k used in the literature have been necessarily speculative. Direct measurement of this efficiency factor is now possible, and could be used to compare the relative efficiencies of insect flight across the Class. Here, we use Digital Particle Image Velocimetry to measure the instantaneous downwash distribution, mid-downstroke, of a tethered desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria). By integrating the downwash distribution, we are thereby able to provide the first direct empirical measurement of k for an insect. The measured value of k = 1.12 corresponds reasonably well with that predicted by previous theoretical studies.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Volume three-dimensional flow measurements using wavelength multiplexing.

Optically distinguishable seeding particles that emit light in a narrow bandwidth, and a combination of bandwidths, were prepared by encapsulating quantum dots. The three-dimensional components of the particles' displacement were measured within a volume of fluid with particle tracking velocimetry (PTV). Particles are multiplexed to different hue bands in the camera images, enabling an increased seeding density and (or) fewer cameras to be used, thereby increasing the measurement spatial resolution and (or) reducing optical access requirements. The technique is also applicable to two-phase flow measurements with PTV or particle image velocimetry, where each phase is uniquely seeded.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2005

The aerodynamics of Manduca sexta: digital particle image velocimetry analysis of the leading-edge vortex.

Here we present the first digital particle image velocimetry (DPIV) analysis of the flow field around the wings of an insect (the tobacco hawkmoth Manduca sexta, tethered to a 6-component force-moment balance in a wind tunnel). A leading-edge vortex (LEV) is present above the wings towards the end of the downstroke, as the net upward force peaks. Our DPIV analyses and smoke visualisations match the results of previous flow visualisation experiments at midwing, and we extend the experiments to provide the first analysis of the flow field above the thorax. Detailed DPIV measurements show that towards the end of the downstroke, the LEV structure is consistent with that recently reported in free-flying butterflies and dragonflies: the LEV is continuous across the thorax and runs along each wing to the wingtip, where it inflects to form the wingtip trailing vortices. The LEV core is 2-3 mm in diameter (approximately 10% of local wing chord) both at the midwing position and over the centreline at 1.2 m s(-1) and at 3.5 m s(-1) flight speeds. At 1.2 m s(-1) the measured LEV circulation is 0.012+/-0.001 m(2) s(-1) (mean +/-S.D.) at the centreline and 0.011+/-0.001 m(2) s(-1) halfway along the wing. At 3.5 m s(-1) LEV circulation is 0.011+/-0.001 m(2) s(-1) at the centreline and 0.020+/-0.004 m(2) s(-1) at midwing. The DPIV measurements suggest that if there is any spanwise flow in the LEV towards the end of the downstroke its velocity is less than 1 m s(-1). Estimates of force production show that the LEV contributes significantly to supporting body weight during bouts of flight at both speeds (more than 10% of body weight at 1.2 m s(-1) and 35-65% of body weight at 3.5 m s(-1)).

Animals↗