Aircraft Wake Vortices


Book Description




Application of Wind Tunnel Free-Flight Technique for Wake Vortex Encounters


Book Description

A wind tunnel investigation was conducted in the Langley 30- by 60-Foot Tunnel to assess the free-flight test technique as a tool in research on wake vortex encounters. A typical 17.5-percent scale business-class jet airplane model was flown behind a stationary wing mounted in the forward portion of the wind tunnel test section. The span ratio (model span-generating wingspan) was 0.75. The wing angle of attack could be adjusted to produce a vortex of desired strength. The test airplane model was successfully flown in the vortex and through the vortex for a range of vortex strengths. Data obtained included the model airplane body axis accelerations, angular rates, attitudes, and control positions as a function of vortex strength and relative position. Pilot comments and video records were also recorded during the vortex encounters. Brandon, Jay M. and Jordan, Frank L., Jr. and Stuever, Robert A. and Buttrill, Catherine W. Langley Research Center...




A Method for Assessing the Impact of Wake Vortices of USAF Operations


Book Description

Experience as a consultant to the Safety Office at Norton AFB led to compiling the engineering tools presented so that this report can be used by engineering personnel to investigate future incidents/accidents and existing USAF operations that are impacted by the vortical wake hazard. The approach presented is amenable to easy hand computations. Mixed airplane/helicopter operations can be assessed, since the engineering tools to determine the location and strength of the rotor downwash field behind a helicopter are presented. Finally, a simplified mathematical model is given to represent this hazard for use in USAF simulators, to make pilots aware of the problems associated with operating in wake-contaminated airspace.







Scientific and Technical Aerospace Reports


Book Description

Lists citations with abstracts for aerospace related reports obtained from world wide sources and announces documents that have recently been entered into the NASA Scientific and Technical Information Database.







Analysis of Wake Vas Benefits Using Aces Build 3.2.1


Book Description

The FAA and NASA are currently engaged in a Wake Turbulence Research Program to revise wake turbulence separation standards, procedures, and criteria to increase airport capacity while maintaining or increasing safety. The research program is divided into three phases: Phase I near term procedural enhancements; Phase II wind dependent Wake Vortex Advisory System (WakeVAS) Concepts of Operations (ConOps); and Phase III farther term ConOps based on wake prediction and sensing. The Phase III Wake VAS ConOps is one element of the Virtual Airspace Modelling and Simulation (VAMS) program blended concepts for enhancing the total system wide capacity of the National Airspace System (NAS). This report contains a VAMS Program Type 1 (stand-alone) assessment of the expected capacity benefits of Wake VAS at the 35 FAA Benchmark Airports and determines the consequent reduction in delay using the Airspace Concepts Evaluation System (ACES) Build 3.2.1 simulator.Smith, Jeremy C.Langley Research CenterAIRSPACE; NATIONAL AIRSPACE SYSTEM; TURBULENCE; VORTEX ADVISORY SYSTEM; WAKES; ATMOSPHERIC SOUNDING; DETECTION; SAFETY; SATELLITE SOUNDING; SIMULATORS




Rotor Wake Vortex Definition


Book Description

An initial evaluation is made of extensive three-component (3C) particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements within the wake across a rotor disk plane. The model is a 40 percent scale BO-105 helicopter main rotor in forward flight simulation. This study is part of the HART II test program conducted in the German-Dutch Wind Tunnel (DNW). Included are wake vortex field measurements over the advancing and retreating sides of the rotor operating at a typical descent landing condition important for impulsive blade-vortex interaction (BVI) noise. Also included are advancing side results for rotor angle variations from climb to steep descent. Using detailed PIV vector maps of the vortex fields, methods of extracting key vortex parameters are examined and a new method was developed and evaluated. An objective processing method, involving a center-of-vorticity criterion and a vorticity 'disk' integration, was used to determine vortex core size, strength, core velocity distribution characteristics, and unsteadiness. These parameters are mapped over the rotor disk and offer unique physical insight for these parameters of importance for rotor noise and vibration prediction.Burley, Casey L. and Brooks, Thomas F. and vanderWall, Berend and Richard, Hughes and Raffel, Markus and Beaumier, Philippe and Delrieux, Yves and Lim, Joon W. and Yu, Yung H. and Tung, CheeAmes Research Center; Langley Research CenterROTOR AERODYNAMICS; VORTICES; WAKES; BO-105 HELICOPTER; ROTARY WINGS; WIND TUNNEL TESTS; PARTICLE IMAGE VELOCIMETRY; WIND TUNNELS; BLADE-VORTEX INTERACTION; BLADE SLAP NOISE