Experimental Investigation on The Effect of Free Stream Turbulence on Wingtip Vortices

摘要

The interaction of a wingtip vortex with atmospheric Free Stream Turbulence (FST), a phenomenon that prevails in airport runways, may alter its trajectory and its strength downstream. This work is an experimental investigation on the effects of FST on the evolution and the wandering of a wingtip vortex in the wake of a NACA0012 wing at an AOA of Sdeg. The measurements were conducted using a Stereoscopic PIV at a Reynolds number, Re, based on the chord of 2xl05. FST intensities of 0.5%, 3% and 6% were selected. Measurements in the wake at x/c = 05, 2.5,5, and, 7 show that the FST contributes to the vortex decay namely by decreasing the velocity deficit in the vortex core region. FST decreased circulation, increased the circumferential velocity peak decay and increased meandering amplitude.