Wing control surfaces are used to trigger the breakup of trailing vortices behind aircraft in a flaps-down configuration. In the near field of the aircraft there are multiple pairs of vortices, which admit new instability mechanisms that do not exist on a single pair of vortices. A periodic motion of the control surfaces is used to introduce a unique form of perturbation that is amplified in the multiple vortex-pair system but conserves total circulation, lift, and rolling moment. Growth of the perturbations leads to the periodic pinching of the starboard and port vortices into a series of vortex rings. The concept is demonstrated using numerical simulations and towing-tank experiments. Results show that the system breaks up the trailing vortices more rapidly than a comparable excitation of the Crow instability on a single pair of vortices. The overall effectiveness of the system depends on the airplane configuration, namely, details of the flap system and the horizontal tail.
Active-control system for breakup of airplane trailing vortices
Zerstörung der Wirbelschleppe im Nachstrom eines Flugzeugs durch periodische Bewegung der Landeklappe
AIAA Journal ; 39 , 12 ; 2374-2381
2001
8 Seiten, 9 Bilder, 14 Quellen
Article (Journal)
English
FLUID DYNAMICS - Active-Control System for Breakup of Airplane Trailing Vortices
Online Contents | 2001
|Flight-simulator study of airplane encounters with perturbed trailing vortices
British Library Conference Proceedings | 2004
|