Wilkinson Matthew T, Unwin David M, Ellington Charles P
Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK.
Proc Biol Sci. 2006 Jan 7;273(1582):119-26. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2005.3278.
The pteroid bone is a rod-like element found only in pterosaurs, the flying reptiles of the Mesozoic. It articulated at the wrist, and supported a membranous forewing in front of the inner part of the wing spar. The function of this bone, particularly its orientation, has been much debated. It is widely believed that it pointed towards the body, and that the forewing was relatively narrow. An alternative hypothesis states that it was directed forwards during flight, resulting in a much broader forewing that acted as a leading edge flap. We tested scale models in a wind tunnel to determine the aerodynamic consequences of these conflicting hypotheses, and found that performance is greatly improved if the pteroid is directed forwards: the lift: drag ratios are superior and the maximum lift is exceptionally high in comparison with conventional aerofoils. This high lift capability may have enabled even the largest pterosaurs to take off and land without difficulty.
翼骨是一种仅在翼龙（中生代的飞行爬行动物）中发现的棒状骨骼。它连接在腕部，在翼梁内侧前方支撑着一个膜质前翅。这块骨头的功能，尤其是其方向，一直备受争议。人们普遍认为它指向身体，且前翅相对较窄。另一种假说认为，在飞行过程中它是向前指向的，从而形成一个更宽的前翅，起到前缘襟翼的作用。我们在风洞中测试了比例模型，以确定这些相互矛盾的假说所产生的空气动力学后果，结果发现，如果翼骨向前指向，性能会有很大提升：与传统翼型相比，升阻比更高，最大升力异常高。这种高升力能力甚至可能使最大的翼龙也能轻松起飞和降落。
