The results of a wind tunnel investigation on the wake vortex evolution behind a half model of a four engined large transport aircraft in high lift configuration, with and without influencing by winglet tabs, are presented. The wake is measured by means of advanced hot-wire anemometry up to 5.6 spans downstream of the model. Results obtained include vorticity and turbulence intensity fields. The measured data is processed in order to evaluate the influence of the winglet tabs on the vortex decay rate. The increasing air traffic and the growing difficulties in expanding airports and runways burdens the capacities at major airports around the world. In order to counter act this development, aircraft size is increased. The minimum distance between two aircraft on approach or take-off is primarily driven by the weight and therewith by the size of the two aircraft. To meet the requirements of growing air traffic a reduction of the separation distances, without reducing the level of safety already obtained today, would lead to a relief at hub airports. Larger and larger aircraft can only disburden the bottleneck if their separation distances are not increased in comparison to large transport aircraft today. The trailing vortices of the preceding aircraft are a potential safety issue for the following aircraft.
Investigation on an active winglet influencing the wake of a large transport aircraft
Untersuchung eines die Nachlaufströmung hinter einem großen Transportflugzeug beeinflussenden, aktiven Winglets
2006
15 Seiten, 36 Bilder, 2 Tabellen, 11 Quellen
Aufsatz (Konferenz)
Englisch
INVESTIGATION ON AN ACTIVE WINGLET INFLUENCING THE WAKE OF A LARGE TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT
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