トビヘビ滑空メカニズムの空気力学的検証

Abstract

The body shape of a snake is generally not suitable for gliding flight. However, the flying snake Chrysopelea paradisi deforms its round body into a semi-cylindrical shape, and glides in the air without stalling in the same wriggling motion as when moving on the land or water surface. Moreover, the flying snake is not damaged when landing after gliding flight. In this investigation, we discuss the gliding flight and landing mechanism of the flying snake from aerodynamics perspective. We made a two-dimensional body model of the flying snake. Using this model, we carried out the wind tunnel experiments and two dimensional numerical simulations. When the flying snake body lies normal to the flow, the gliding ratio is about 2.4 and it lands safely. In particular, we found that the pitching moment can be reduced to zero by slightly moving the center of gravity.