Cross-flow dynamics over a high-swept delta wing at a low Reynolds number: an experimental study
摘要
The cross-flow velocity field over a 75° swept delta wing and its near wake is investigated using two-dimensional Particle Image Velocimetry (2D-PIV) at angles of attack ranging from α = 15° to 35°, with a Reynolds number of 6.3 × 104. The spatial evolution of the leading-edge vortices (LEVs) is characterized by radial distributions of tangential velocity and circulation. These quantities increase along the chord but decrease in the near wake. While the vortex size grows chordwise over the wing, it remains practically constant in the near wake, where vorticity rapidly decays. As the angle of attack increases, both the vortex circulation and size grow over the wing surface so that a scaling length is proposed to be the product of the local semispan and the sine of the angle of attack. Peak vorticity shows only mild variation along the chord (from mid-chord to trailing edge) as well as with angle of attack, indicating that changes in circulation are mainly driven by vortex size. Cross-flow turbulence intensity decays exponentially in the radial direction, increases streamwise and it is mildly affected by the angle of attack. Asymmetries between the two LEVs, particularly in tangential velocity, vorticity and vortex centre location, are observed, becoming more pronounced in the wake. Breakdown of both vortices is detected at α = 35°, occurring in the wake near the trailing edge.