Measurements of wake vortices interacting with the ground

Details

• Creators:
  Burnham, David C. ; Hallock, James N.
• Corporate Creators:
  Scientific and Engineering Solutions, Inc. ; John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  Crosswinds Flow Ground Effect Measurement Phased Arrays Propellers Turbulence Vortices Wakes Wake Vortices Wind

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• Resource Type:
  Journal
• Geographical Coverage:
  New York (New York)
• Abstract:
  Although wake vortices are known to decay more rapidly near the ground than away from the ground, the details of the ground interaction are not well understood. Propeller anemometer arrays located under the approach path have been used to study vortex transport and provide some information about the vortex interaction with the ground, such as the generation of secondary vortices via boundary layer detachment. A propeller anemometer array at Kennedy Airport using 8.5-m poles was augmented with (1) a sonic anemometer measuring 3D wind and temperature at 10 Hz and (2) a vertical array of vertical wind and crosswind anemometers, mounted at four additional levels (4.2, 3.2, 1.05, and 0.5 m). The sonic anemometer gave measurements of turbulence inside the vortex flow field and indications of vertical variations in the ambient headwind and temperature, which were brought down to the measurement level by the descent of the vortex recirculation oval. In general, under conditions of low to moderate turbulence, the turbulence level inside the wake vortex flow field is greater than that in the ambient wind. The vertical anemometer array showed that the crosswind profile under a wake vortex in ground effect has a boundary layer much thinner than that of the ambient wind.
• Format:
  PDF
• Collection(s):
  Volpe Center
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:a35bfb8b1e46a49c79fd5830762ad9ee45e124c12d5766a06c548e6e45f2c7b0
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/9658/dot_9658_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 797.44 KB ]