A separated vortex ring underlies the flight of the dandelion

Cummins, C., Seale, M., Macente, A. , Certini, D., Mastropaolo, E., Viola, I. M. and Nakayama, N. (2018) A separated vortex ring underlies the flight of the dandelion. Nature, 562(7727), pp. 414-418. (doi: 10.1038/s41586-018-0604-2) (PMID:30333579)

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Abstract

Wind-dispersed plants have evolved ingenious ways to lift their seeds1,2. The common dandelion uses a bundle of drag-enhancing bristles (the pappus) that helps to keep their seeds aloft. This passive flight mechanism is highly effective, enabling seed dispersal over formidable distances3,4; however, the physics underpinning pappus-mediated flight remains unresolved. Here we visualized the flow around dandelion seeds, uncovering an extraordinary type of vortex. This vortex is a ring of recirculating fluid, which is detached owing to the flow passing through the pappus. We hypothesized that the circular disk-like geometry and the porosity of the pappus are the key design features that enable the formation of the separated vortex ring. The porosity gradient was surveyed using microfabricated disks, and a disk with a similar porosity was found to be able to recapitulate the flow behaviour of the pappus. The porosity of the dandelion pappus appears to be tuned precisely to stabilize the vortex, while maximizing aerodynamic loading and minimizing material requirements. The discovery of the separated vortex ring provides evidence of the existence of a new class of fluid behaviour around fluid-immersed bodies that may underlie locomotion, weight reduction and particle retention in biological and manmade structures.

Item Type:Articles (Letter)
Additional Information:This work was supported by the Leverhulme Trust (RPG-2015-255) and the Royal Society (UF140640).
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Macente, Dr Alice
Authors: Cummins, C., Seale, M., Macente, A., Certini, D., Mastropaolo, E., Viola, I. M., and Nakayama, N.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Geographical and Earth Sciences
Journal Name:Nature
Publisher:Nature Publishing Group
ISSN:0028-0836
ISSN (Online):1476-4687
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2018 Springer Nature
First Published:First published in Nature 562(7727):414-418
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher

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