We consider a model of incompressible trailing vortices consisting of an array of counter-rotating structures in a doubly periodic domain, infinite in the vertical direction. The two-dimensional vortex array of Mallier and Maslowe is combined with an axial velocity profile chosen proportional to the initial axial vorticity to provide an initial condition for the vortex wake. This base flow is a weak solution of the steady Euler equations with three velocity components that are functions of two spatial coordinates, thus allowing its linear stability properties to be investigated. These are used to interpret several stages in the development of vortex structure observed in fully three-dimensional direct numerical simulation (DNS) at Reynolds numbers Gamma/(2pinu)=[script O](1000). For sufficiently high axial velocity, its effect can be seen, in that each vortex in the linear array first develops helical structures before undergoing a period of relaminarization. At later times the more slowly growing cooperative elliptical instabilities become apparent, but the helical structure persists and the observed vortical structures remain coherent for longer periods than in the absence of axial velocity. Using the stretched-vortex subgrid model, large-eddy simulation runs are performed at large Reynolds numbers and a mixing transition identified at about Re=1–2×10^4. Similar phenomena are observed in these simulations as are seen in the DNS.
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