W7.2.4 - Finite-Element Analysis of Nodus-Driven Flexibility in Dragonfly Wings for Micro-Air Vehicles
- Event
- EUROSENSORS XXXVII
2025-09-07 - 2025-09-10
Wroclaw - Band
- Lectures
- Chapter
- W7.2 - Theory, Design and Testing
- Author(s)
- M. U. Yousaf, R. Gaidys - Kaunas University of Technology, Kaunas (Lithuania)
- Pages
- 178 - 180
- DOI
- 10.5162/EUROSENSORS2025/W7.2.4
- ISBN
- 978-3-910600-07-2
- Price
- free
Abstract
We investigate how the stiffness of the nodus joint affects deformation of a dragonfly forewing under a static distributed pressure load, using a full-wing finite element model in COMSOL Multiphysics. A sim-plified triangular model was initially used for calibration. In the final model the forewing is represented by shell/beam elements with material properties of insect cuticle and a spring at the nodus to simulate the hinge stiffness. Under uniform pressure the tip deflection is highly sensitive to the nodus rotational stiffness: lower stiffness yields larger deflections. Results are quantified by a deflection–stiffness curve. Our findings indicate that a more compliant nodus markedly increases wing flexibility, whereas a rigid nodus limits deflection, consistent with insect wing biomechanics in the literature.