Abstract
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1438-1440 |
| Journal | Science |
| Volume | 324 |
| Issue number | 5933 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2009 |
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Keywords
- long-distance dispersal
- low reynolds-numbers
- revolving wings
- insect flight
- vortex
- aerodynamics
- performance
- mechanisms
- samaras
- swifts
Cite this
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Leading-Edge Vortices Elevate Lift of Autorotating Plant Seeds. / Lentink, D.; Dickson, W.B.; van Leeuwen, J.L.; Dickinson, M.H.
In: Science, Vol. 324, No. 5933, 2009, p. 1438-1440.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Leading-Edge Vortices Elevate Lift of Autorotating Plant Seeds
AU - Lentink, D.
AU - Dickson, W.B.
AU - van Leeuwen, J.L.
AU - Dickinson, M.H.
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - As they descend, the autorotating seeds of maples and some other trees generate unexpectedly high lift, but how they attain this elevated performance is unknown. To elucidate the mechanisms responsible, we measured the three-dimensional flow around dynamically scaled models of maple and hornbeam seeds. Our results indicate that these seeds attain high lift by generating a stable leading-edge vortex (LEV) as they descend. The compact LEV, which we verified on real specimens, allows maple seeds to remain in the air more effectively than do a variety of nonautorotating seeds. LEVs also explain the high lift generated by hovering insects, bats, and possibly birds, suggesting that the use of LEVs represents a convergent aerodynamic solution in the evolution of flight performance in both animals and plants
AB - As they descend, the autorotating seeds of maples and some other trees generate unexpectedly high lift, but how they attain this elevated performance is unknown. To elucidate the mechanisms responsible, we measured the three-dimensional flow around dynamically scaled models of maple and hornbeam seeds. Our results indicate that these seeds attain high lift by generating a stable leading-edge vortex (LEV) as they descend. The compact LEV, which we verified on real specimens, allows maple seeds to remain in the air more effectively than do a variety of nonautorotating seeds. LEVs also explain the high lift generated by hovering insects, bats, and possibly birds, suggesting that the use of LEVs represents a convergent aerodynamic solution in the evolution of flight performance in both animals and plants
KW - long-distance dispersal
KW - low reynolds-numbers
KW - revolving wings
KW - insect flight
KW - vortex
KW - aerodynamics
KW - performance
KW - mechanisms
KW - samaras
KW - swifts
U2 - 10.1126/science.1174196
DO - 10.1126/science.1174196
M3 - Article
VL - 324
SP - 1438
EP - 1440
JO - Science
JF - Science
SN - 0036-8075
IS - 5933
ER -