Announcement_2_prf2025upfal

Bio-inspired compliant membrane wings increase the power production of tidal turbines

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My paper based on my undergraduate work on the aerodynamics of compliant membrane wings was published today in Physical Review Fluids and was recognized as an Editor’s Suggestion. Compliant membrane wings, inspired by the wings of flying mammals such as bats, generate increased lift compared with rigid airfoils and exhibit a delayed onset of stall. When oscillating in a fluid flow such as rivers or tides, a compliant membrane wing can extract more power than a rigid airfoil. Our study investigates the performance of the compliant membrane turbine design across the full kinematic parameter range in addition to comparing the lift and power of compliant and inextensible membrane wings.