Particle image velocimetry has been the preferred experimental technique with which to study the aerodynamics of animal flight for over a decade. In that time, hardware has become more accessible and the software has progressed from the acquisition of planes through the flow field to the reconstruction of small volumetric measurements. Until now, it has not been possible to capture large volumes that incorporate the full wavelength of the aerodynamic track left behind during a complete wingbeat cycle. Here, we use a unique apparatus to acquire the first instantaneous wake volume of a flying animal's entire wingbeat. We confirm the presence of wake deformation behind desert locusts and quantify the effect of that deformation on estimates of aerodynamic force and the efficiency of lift generation. We present previously undescribed vortex wake phenomena, including entrainment around the wing-tip vortices of a set of secondary vortices borne of Kelvin–Helmholtz instability in the shear layer behind the flapping wings.
Data (part 1) underpinning "The complex aerodynamic footprint of desert locusts revealed by large-volume tomographic particle image velocimetry", Henningsson et al, 2015.
Tomographic particle image velocimetry measurements of a desert locust in tethered flight. The data have been processed using DaVis software (Lavision Gmbh, http://www.lavision.de/en/) and have been subjected to POD reconstruction to generate 230 frames, as detailed in the article. The files are in '.vc7' format, readable using DaVis. Further information and raw files are available on request.
Henningsson et al. 2015 1.zip
Data (part 2) underpinning "The complex aerodynamic footprint of desert locusts revealed by large-volume tomographic particle image velocimetry", Henningsson et al, 2015.
Henningsson et al. 2015 2.zip
Data (part 3) underpinning "The complex aerodynamic footprint of desert locusts revealed by large-volume tomographic particle image velocimetry", Henningsson et al, 2015.
Henningsson et al. 2015 3.zip
Data (part 4) underpinning "The complex aerodynamic footprint of desert locusts revealed by large-volume tomographic particle image velocimetry", Henningsson et al, 2015.
Henningsson et al. 2015 4.zip
Data (part 5) underpinning "The complex aerodynamic footprint of desert locusts revealed by large-volume tomographic particle image velocimetry", Henningsson et al, 2015.
Henningsson et al. 2015 5.zip
Data (part 6) underpinning "The complex aerodynamic footprint of desert locusts revealed by large-volume tomographic particle image velocimetry", Henningsson et al, 2015.
Henningsson et al. 2015 6.zip
Data (part 7) underpinning "The complex aerodynamic footprint of desert locusts revealed by large-volume tomographic particle image velocimetry", Henningsson et al, 2015.
Henningsson et al. 2015 7.zip
Data (part 8) underpinning "The complex aerodynamic footprint of desert locusts revealed by large-volume tomographic particle image velocimetry", Henningsson et al, 2015.
Henningsson et al. 2015 8.zip