Large eddy simulation of aircraft wake vortices within homogeneous turbulence - Crow instability

Abstract

Ambient atmospheric turbulence effects on aircraft wake vortices are studied using a validated large eddy simulation model. Our results confirm that the most amplified wavelength of the Crow instability and the lifetime of wake vortices are significantly influenced by ambient turbulence. The Crow instability becomes well developed in most atmospheric turbulence levels, but in strong turbulence the vortex pair deforms more irregularly due to turbulence advection. The most amplified wavelength of the instability decreases with increasing dimensionless turbulence intensity η, although it increases with increasing turbulence integral length scale. The vortex lifespan is controlled primarily by η and decreases with increasing η, whereas the effect of integral scale of turbulence on vortex lifespan is of minor importance