Vorticity and its transport in juncture flow

Abstract

The influence of wing sweep on vorticily and its transport has been investigated in the juncture region of wing-body configurations. Three component LDV measurements of mean velocities were differentiated numerically to compute vorticity and subsequently its advection. Vortical structures tot visible in the mean velocity maps were observable in the vorticity and transport maps. Vortical structures were observed to be limited to less than 30% of the boundary layer in plane of symmetry and the transverse plane at the maximum wing thickness location, diffusing into the upper layers as the flow progressed further stream-wise. In general, vorticity diffused to about 40% in the maximum thickness plane and by an order of magnitude as it reached the trailing edge. Wing sweep reduced the vertical influence of vorticity with forward sweep having higher influence. Swept wing configuration had slightly higher vorticity in the plane of symmetry. Wing sweep also reduced the diffusion of vorticity into the upper regions of the boundary layer. Transverse diffusion of vorticity was observed to be an order of magnitude higher than the vertical transport for swept cases. The vorticity transport was observed closer to the wing centerline with increasing sweep. Forward sweep influenced vertical transport in the plane of symmetry. Increased organized vorticity transport due to wing sweep was observed in the wing corner region.