Study on the influence of linear and nonlinear distribution of crosswind on the motion of aircraft wake vortex

Abstract

Environmental crosswind can greatly affect the development of aircraft wake vortex pair. Previous numerical simulations and experiments have shown that the nonlinear vertical shear of the crosswind velocity can affect the dissipation rate of the aircraft wake vortex, causing each vortex of the vortex pair descent with different velocity magnitude, which will lead to the asymmetrical settlement and tilt of the wake vortex pair. Through numerical simulations, this article finds that uniform crosswind convection and linear vertical shear crosswind convection can also have an effect on the strength of the vortex. This effect is inversely proportional to the cube of the vortex spacing, so it is more intense on small separation vortex pair. In addition, the superposition of crosswind and vortex-induced velocities will lead to the asymmetrical pressure distribution around the vortex pair, which will also cause the tilt of the vortex pair. Furthermore, a new analysis method for wake vortex is proposed, which can be used to predict the vortex trajectory.