Abstract
In this study, we evaluated the lift force generated by the crane-fly's flapping wing with the passive pitching using the three dimensional finite element method for the fluid-structure interaction. The torsional flexibility of the wing was modeled as the spring attached to the wing plane. In the computational simulation, the model wing kept the high angle of attack during the flapping translation and rotated quickly upon the stroke reversal without any aid for the pitching motion. The generated lift force was comparable to the insect's weight. Our result strongly suggests that the pitching motion can be passive in the cranefly's flapping flight.
