Microburst simulation via vortex-ring and turbulent jet models

Microbursts, suggested as primary causes of many aircraft fatal crashes, are the subject of this research. A microburst, or low-level intense wind shear, is generated by a thunderstorm or a small rain cloud, and presents hazardous conditions for aircraft during take-off and landing maneuvers. Recently released data show that a microburst resembles a transient vortex ring. Three microburst models have been constructed in this study. First, the turbulent jet model encompasses a free jet at high altitude and a wall jet near the ground surface. Second, the vortex ring model is a combination of a primary and an image vortex ring, with an inviscid-viscous interaction at the central axial and surface regions. An unsteady version of this model is also provided by solving the trajectory equation with the Direct Formal Integration (DFI) method or with the Runge-Kutta method. Third and finally, the complete unsteady microburst model equations (conservation of mass, momentum, and energy), or what has been referred to as the Navier-Stokes model formulation, are solved by the successive over relaxation method. Results show that the microburst can be simulated accurately by impulsive turbulent jet at high altitude and a transient vortex ring in mid-air and near the ground surface. In addition to improved understanding of the physical nature of microbursts, the models presented here can also be used for flight simulation and the pilot training purposes.