| The effects of secondary structures on aircraft wake vortices are numerically studied using a three-dimensional point vortex method. This method is first applied to simple vortex structures that have analytical solutions for validation of the computer code, determination of grid resolution requirements, and approximate cut-off distance criteria. Crow instability criteria for three-dimensional counter-rotating vortex-pair is simulated. Vortex-rings are used as secondary vortical structures with various circulation strengths, sizes and locations to study the effects of atmospheric turbulence on aircraft wakes. It was determined that the point vortex method in three-dimensional space produced satisfactory results for the validation and Crow instability cases. |
