mercredi 8 janvier

14 à 15h dans la salle des thèses FSS
Dr Ariane Gayout (ENS Lyon, postdoc à l'Université de Groningen), invitée par F. Ruffier
 

Flying in turbulence: learning from bird tails

Abstract: Turbulence is omnipresent in the environment birds fly in. While planes and drones still struggle managing it, birds have fully adapted to this condition, especially at landing. Maintaining aerodynamic performances in such maneuver is particularly crucial as flight speed tends to zero. In this talk, I will investigate experimentally how a bio-hybrid pigeon tail can be used to mitigate turbulence. I will first delve into how birds can spread their tail to tune their lift with forces measurements and flow visualization. I will then show how turbulence impacts the wake of the tail, concurring with a remarkable enhancement of the tail aerodynamic efficiency. This beneficial wake-turbulence interaction not only provides insights on bird flight strategies but also bioinspiration for novel aircraft designs in enhanced turbulence.

Bio: After a PhD at the ENS de Lyon in fundamental aerodynamics, I joined the Biomimetics group at the University of Groningen in 2022. During my first two years, I was working on bird flight in turbulence with David Lentink and I am now starting a new project on insect flight on a Veni grant as independent postdoc. Fascinated by Nature since early childhood, I aim at understanding physics through animal learning and evolution.