Numerical and experimental investigation of the mean and turbulent characteristics of a wing-tip vortex in the near field

The near-field (up to three chord lengths) development of a wing-tip vortex is investigated both numerically and experimentally. The research was conducted in a medium speed wind tunnel on a NACA 0012 square tip half-wing at a Reynolds number of 3.2 × 10(superscript 5). A full Reynolds stress turbulence model with a hybrid unstructured grid was used to compute the wing-tip vortex in the near field while an x-wire anemometer and five-hole probe recorded the experimental results. The mean flow of the computed vortex was in good agreement with experiment as the circulation parameter was within 6% of the experimental value at x/c = 0 for ɑ = 10° and the crossflow velocity magnitude was within 1% of the experimental value at x/c = 1 for ɑ = 5°. The trajectory of the computed vortex was also in good agreement as it had moved inboard by the same amount (10% chord) as the e experimental vortex at the last measurement location. The axial velocity excess is under predicted for ɑ = 10°, whereas the velocity deficit is in relatively good agreement for ɑ = 5°. The computed Reynolds shear stress component <u'v'> is in good agreement with experiment at x/c = 0 for ɑ = 5°, but is greatly under predicted further downstream and at all locations for ɑ = 10°. It is thought that a lack of local grid refinement in the vortex core and deficiencies in the Reynolds stress turbulence model may have led to errors in the mean flow and turbulence results respectively.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.1177/0954410013519598
• Record URL:
  • http://pig.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/228/13/2516
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/19966973
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Reprinted by permission of Sage Publications, Ltd.
• Authors:
  • O’Regan, Micheál S
  • Griffin, Philip C
  • Young, Trevor M
• Publication Date: 2014-11

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 2516-2529
• Serial:
  • Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part G: Journal of Aerospace Engineering
  • Volume: 228
  • Issue Number: 13
  • Publisher: Sage Publications, Incorporated
  • ISSN: 0954-4100
  • EISSN: 2041-3025
  • Serial URL: http://pig.sagepub.com/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Atmospheric turbulence; Flow fields; Near field; Reynolds stress; Vortices; Wings (Aircraft)
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01544901
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 24 2014 3:49PM