Trailing-edge fringes enable robust aerodynamic force production and noise suppression in an owl wing model.

As one of the unique owl-wing morphologies, trailing-edge (TE) fringes are believed to play a critical role in the silent flight of owls and have been widely investigated using idealized single/tandem airfoils. However, the effect of TE fringes and associated mechanisms on the aeroacoustics of owl wings, which feature curved leading edges, wavy TEs, and several feather slots at the wingtips, have not yet been addressed. In this study, we constructed two 3D owl wing models, one with and one without TE fringes, based on the geometric characteristics of a real owl wing.