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Biomimetics
Special Issues
Bioinspired Aerodynamic-Fluidic Design
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Bioinspired Aerodynamic-Fluidic Design

A special issue of Biomimetics (ISSN 2313-7673). This special issue belongs to the section "Biomimetic Design, Constructions and Devices".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 4468

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Xiaomin Liu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Fluid Machinery and Engineering (Machine Pump Research Center), School of Energy and Power Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710048, China
Interests: optimization and bionic design of fluid-Machinery; bionic flow and noise control; computaional fluid dynamics; fluid topology optimization
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Limin Gao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Power and Energy, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
Interests: numerical simulation of complex flow fields of axial and centrifugal impellers; aerodynamic design of high-efficiency and energy-saving impeller machinery; computational fluid dynamics theory and engineering application; advanced flow display and measurement technology; simulation and analysis of aerodynamic and thermal processes of propulsion systems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Bioinspired Aerodynamic-Fluidic Design provides a revolutionary approach to the optimization of mechanical systems by imitating the efficient movement and morphological characteristics of natural organisms (such as birds, fish, or insects) in a fluid environment. This interdisciplinary field combines fluid mechanics, bionics, and mechanical engineering to improve the energy efficiency, maneuverability, and environmental adaptability of equipment such as aircraft, underwater robots, and wind turbines. For example, the airfoil and deformable structure of bird wings can reduce the drag of aircraft; the micro-texture of the shark skin surface can reduce turbulent loss. In addition, the design of micro-UAVs based on the vortex control principle of insect wing flaps, or underwater thrusters inspired by fish swing propulsion, has demonstrated the potential of bionic fluid design.

In the future, with the development of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and smart materials, bionic aerodynamic-fluidic design may achieve greater breakthroughs in the fields of flexible mechanical systems and adaptive flow control, and promote technological innovation in green energy and high-end equipment. This Special Issue aims to collect biomimetic aerodynamics， bio-inspired fluid mechanics, insect-inspired wing morphing, bird-inspired wing morphing, shark skin riblets, fish-like undulatory propulsion, insect flight dynamics, etc. This Special Issue includes but is not limited to the above scope.

Prof. Dr. Xiaomin Liu
Prof. Dr. Limin Gao
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomimetics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biomimetic aerodynamics
  • bio-inspired fluid mechanics
  • fluid-structure interaction (FSI)
  • nature-inspired flow control
  • computational fluid dynamics (CFD)

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 7437 KB  
Article
Study of the Noise Reduction Mechanism of Bionic Circular Arch Structures on the Blades of a High-Volumetric-Airflow Axial Flow Fan
by Chun Shen, Shijie Hu, Dongjun Xu, Chengchun Zhang, Xiaowei Sun and Wen Cheng
Biomimetics 2026, 11(2), 127; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics11020127 - 10 Feb 2026
Viewed by 621
Abstract
While bionic sawtooth and wave structures effectively reduce aerodynamic noise on fixed airfoils, their efficacy on rotating fans is often limited. Inspired by the protrusion structures of dragonfly wings and the gentle circular arches of manta rays, this study proposes a novel bionic [...] Read more.
While bionic sawtooth and wave structures effectively reduce aerodynamic noise on fixed airfoils, their efficacy on rotating fans is often limited. Inspired by the protrusion structures of dragonfly wings and the gentle circular arches of manta rays, this study proposes a novel bionic circular arch structure to suppress aeroacoustic noise in axial flow fans. Numerical simulations were validated against experimental data from a standard fan, showing a sound pressure level (SPL) deviation within 3 dB at the first blade passing frequency (BPF), confirming calculation accuracy. The results indicate that the bionic design reduces the total SPL by approximately 2.5 dB. Notably, in the human-sensitive frequency range of 1000–3000 Hz, noise reduction reaches up to 6.6 dB at the upstream monitoring point. Analysis of Root Mean Square (RMS) fluctuating pressure and Fourier transforms reveals that the bionic structure significantly mitigates noise source intensity at the blade tip. This design effectively reduces pressure disturbances at the first BPF and shrinks the high-intensity disturbance region of the boundary layer compared to the prototype. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioinspired Aerodynamic-Fluidic Design)
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26 pages, 9885 KB  
Article
Hybrid LQR-H2 Control of a Kestrel-Based Ornithopter with a Nature-Inspired Flow Control Device for Gust Mitigation
by Saddam Hussain, Ali Hennache, Nouman Abbasi and Dajun Xu
Biomimetics 2026, 11(2), 109; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics11020109 - 3 Feb 2026
Viewed by 1243
Abstract
Unsteady atmospheric disturbances significantly compromise the stability of ornithopters, necessitating advanced turbulence-mitigation strategies. In contrast, natural flyers display remarkable aerodynamic adaptability through dynamic flow-control mechanisms such as covert feathers, enabling stability across unsteady flow regimes. Drawing inspiration from this biological phenomenon, this study [...] Read more.
Unsteady atmospheric disturbances significantly compromise the stability of ornithopters, necessitating advanced turbulence-mitigation strategies. In contrast, natural flyers display remarkable aerodynamic adaptability through dynamic flow-control mechanisms such as covert feathers, enabling stability across unsteady flow regimes. Drawing inspiration from this biological phenomenon, this study presents the modeling and hybrid control of a kestrel-based ornithopter equipped with a Nature-Inspired Flow Control Device (NFCD) that replicates the adaptive feather deployment mechanism observed in kestrels. A reduced-order multibody bond-graph model (BGM) of the full ornithopter is developed, incorporating the main body, propulsion system, rigid wings, and the NFCD subsystem. The model captures key fluid-structure-interaction (FSI) effects between morphing feathers and surrounding airflow. A Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR) ensures optimal performance under nominal gust conditions (≤3 m/s), while an H2 controller activates during high-intensity gusts (≥4 m/s) to enhance disturbance rejection through electromechanical feather actuation. A gain-scheduled transition is employed in the intermediate gust range (3–4 m/s) to ensure a smooth transition between controllers. Simulations indicate up to 70% reduction in gust-induced oscillations and 32% gust-mitigation efficiency, achieved through feather actuation in the NFCD combined with hybrid control, stabilizing the ornithopter in less than 1.4 s under higher gust conditions. The close correspondence between simulated responses and previously reported findings validates the proposed approach. Overall, by merging biomimetic aerodynamics, nature-inspired flow control, and advanced control design, the LQR-H2 governed NFCD provides a promising pathway toward gust-tolerant ornithopters capable of resilient and stable flight in unsteady atmospheric environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioinspired Aerodynamic-Fluidic Design)
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Graphical abstract

20 pages, 4922 KB  
Article
DNS and Experimental Assessment of Shark-Denticle-Inspired Anisotropic Porous Substrates for Drag Reduction
by Benjamin Kellum Cooper, Sasindu Pinto, Henry Hong, Yang Zhang, Louis Cattafesta and Wen Wu
Biomimetics 2025, 10(12), 838; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics10120838 - 15 Dec 2025
Viewed by 637
Abstract
Passive flow control methods are widely used to reduce drag in wall-bounded flows. A recent numerical study on separating turbulent flows over a bump covered with shark denticles revealed the formation of a reverse pore flow (RPF) beneath the denticle crowns under an [...] Read more.
Passive flow control methods are widely used to reduce drag in wall-bounded flows. A recent numerical study on separating turbulent flows over a bump covered with shark denticles revealed the formation of a reverse pore flow (RPF) beneath the denticle crowns under an adverse pressure gradient (APG). This RPF generates an upstream thrust, leading to drag reduction. Motivated by these findings, the present study investigates a bio-inspired Anisotropic Permeable Propulsive Substrate (APPS) that incorporates key geometric features of the shark denticles, enabling thrust generation by the RPF. The designed APPS is evaluated through both direct numerical simulations of turbulent channel flows at Reτ = 1500 and experiments using 3D-printed structures in a turbulent boundary layer over a flat-plate model subjected to APG and flow separation (at Reθ = 800). Both approaches demonstrate that the APPS successfully reproduces the RPF-induced thrust mechanism of shark denticles. The results further reveal the dependence of the pore flow on pressure gradient and substrate geometry. This work highlights two features of a thrust-generating APPS: a top surface that shields the porous media from the overlying flow while enabling vertical mass exchange, and a bottom region with dominant wall-parallel permeability, which guides the pore flow in the streamwise direction to generate the thrust. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioinspired Aerodynamic-Fluidic Design)
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22 pages, 11481 KB  
Article
Contrasting Flexible and Rigid Bioinspired Flapping Hydrofoils for Suspended Particles Discharge in Raceway Aquaculture
by Fangwei Xu, Ertian Hua and Mingwang Xiang
Biomimetics 2025, 10(11), 779; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics10110779 - 16 Nov 2025
Viewed by 673
Abstract
To investigate the impact of flexible versus rigid bioinspired flapping hydrofoils on the discharge characteristics of suspended particles in raceway aquaculture, this study established a two-way fluid–structure coupling model of a flapping hydrofoil device based on ANSYS Fluent and Transient Structural modules. The [...] Read more.
To investigate the impact of flexible versus rigid bioinspired flapping hydrofoils on the discharge characteristics of suspended particles in raceway aquaculture, this study established a two-way fluid–structure coupling model of a flapping hydrofoil device based on ANSYS Fluent and Transient Structural modules. The research compares the discharge characteristics of hydrofoils with different elastic moduli. The results show that, within a certain range of elastic moduli adjustment, flexible bioinspired hydrofoils exhibit greater surface deformation compared to rigid ones, effectively delaying tail vortex shedding and extending its duration, thus prolonging the range of high flow velocities. During the middle stage of discharge, the escape rate of suspended particles under the influence of flexible bioinspired hydrofoils with 0.05 GPa elastic modulus was 3–4% higher than that of rigid hydrofoils. However, in terms of achieving maximum discharge efficiency and effectiveness, both reached approximately 97.8% with little difference between them. This study highlights the bioinspired principles in hydrofoil design and provides a reference for optimizing flexible hydrofoil discharge characteristics in future research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioinspired Aerodynamic-Fluidic Design)
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17 pages, 2571 KB  
Article
Effect of Caudal Keel Structure on the Head Stability of a Bionic Dolphin Robot
by Weijie Gong, Yanxiong Wei and Hong Chen
Biomimetics 2025, 10(11), 756; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics10110756 - 10 Nov 2025
Viewed by 802
Abstract
To address the challenge of head stability in a biomimetic robotic dolphin during self-propulsion, this study systematically investigates the passive stabilization mechanism of a bio-inspired caudal keel. A combined experimental and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach was employed to evaluate four keel geometries [...] Read more.
To address the challenge of head stability in a biomimetic robotic dolphin during self-propulsion, this study systematically investigates the passive stabilization mechanism of a bio-inspired caudal keel. A combined experimental and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach was employed to evaluate four keel geometries across a tail oscillation frequency range of 0.5–2 Hz. The experimental results demonstrate that the optimal keel configuration reduced the standard deviation of the head pitch angle by 20.9% at 2 Hz. CFD analysis revealed a dual stabilization mechanism: an effective keel not only attenuates the intensity of the primary disturbance moment at the driving frequency but, more critically, also enhances the spectral purity of the signal by suppressing high-frequency harmonics and broadband stochastic noise through the systematic reorganization of caudal vortices. A systematic investigation of keel geometry identified non-dimensional height (h/c) as the dominant parameter, with its stabilizing effect exhibiting diminishing returns beyond an optimal range. Furthermore, a quantifiable design trade-off was established, showing an approximate 9.1% increase in the Cost of Transport (CoT) for the most stable configuration. These findings provide quantitative design principles and a deeper physical insight into the passive stabilization of biomimetic underwater vehicles, highlighting the importance of both disturbance intensity and spectral quality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioinspired Aerodynamic-Fluidic Design)
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