Laser Doppler Velocimeter Measurements of B-747 Wake Vortex Characteristics.

Abstract

To determine the behavior of the wake vortices of a B-747 at low altitudes and to measure the vortex-decay process behind the B-747 as a function of altitude above ground, flap and spoiler settings, and different flight configurations, a B-747 aircraft flew 54 passes at low level over a ground-based laser Doppler velocimeter (LDV) system. From the LDV measurements, the location and flow field of the wake vortices and the general vortex roll-up, transport, and decay trends were obtained. Results of the study indicated that the deployment of spoilers and flaps enhanced the decay of the vortex peak tangential velocity in the near wake while aircraft altitude, glide slope, and landing gear deployment had little effect. The report discusses the LDV wake vortex measurements including the instrumentation used, the experimental test sequence, the results of the wake measurements in terms of the vortex roll-up, transport, and decay trends, and a comparison of the wake vortex characteristics for different configurations. (Author)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 1977
Accession Number
ADA048275

Entities

People

  • A. D. Zalay
  • M. R. Brashears

Organizations

  • Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircrafts
  • Altitude
  • Cargo Aircraft
  • Data Processing
  • Data Rate
  • Detectors
  • Doppler Effect
  • Elevation
  • Flight Paths
  • Flow Fields
  • Frequency
  • Instrumentation
  • Landing Gear
  • Line Of Sight
  • Measurement
  • Plastic Explosives
  • Predictive Modeling

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Fluid Mechanics and Fluid Dynamics.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy