Calculation of wake vortex structures in the near-field wake behind cruising aircraft

Wake flows behind cruising aircraft influence the distribution of the exhaust gases. A three-dimensional vortex filament method was developed to calculate the vortex structures and the velocity field of the vorticity dominated wake flows as an integration of the Biot–Savart law. For three-dimensional vortex filament calculations, self-induction singularities were prevented using a finite vortex core for each vortex filament. Numerical simulations show the vortex structures and the velocity field in the wake behind a cruising Boeing 747 as a result of the integration of the Biot–Savart law. It is further shown how the structures of the fully rolled-up trailing vortices depend on the wing span loading, i.e. the circulation distribution.