Effects of crosswinds and tip configurations on the initial phase of wingtip vortex evolution

Zeyu Zhang, Dong Li, Ziming Xu, Jinyan Cai, Jiaolin Cui

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Wingtip vortex is the initial phase of aircraft wake flow that jeopardizes flight safety. Previous studies have focused on the effect of incidence angle on tip vortex flow; thus, investigations on tip vortex in the roll-up stage under crosswind conditions are limited. In the present study, two NACA0012 wings with different tip shapes (round and square) were numerically analyzed to explore the effects of wingtip configurations on tip vortex. In addition, the effects of crosswinds on wingtip vortex evolution were also investigated. It was found that sharp edges of the square wingtip generated a multi-vortex system, resulting in a larger turbulent wake vortex core radius. The lift and vortex strength of the square wingtip were 23% higher and only 12% stronger than those of the round wingtip, respectively. Furthermore, crosswinds changed both the pressure distribution and the vortex structure. Crosswinds made the flow field unstable; hence, upwind lower edge vortices of the square wingtip burst earlier and merged faster. Consequently, the tightness of the upwind vortex of the square wingtip increased, and the corresponding vortex strength was enhanced. The downwind vortex of the square wingtip was weakened by 2.7% under a crosswind velocity of 4 m/s, whereas the downwind tip vortex of the round wingtip was strengthened under the same conditions.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1298-1312
Number of pages15
JournalProceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part G: Journal of Aerospace Engineering
Volume237
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2023

Keywords

  • crosswind
  • round and square wingtips
  • vortex circulation
  • vortex structure
  • wake vortex

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