Abstract

This paper describes the experimental proof of concept study for an ultrasonic method of wake vortex detection. This new acoustic method uses travel time of acoustic pulses around a closed path to measure the net circulation within the acoustic path. In this application the closed path encloses the vorticity shed from one side of a Piper PA-28 aircraft wing. Magnitude and sign of circulation detected is comparable to the expected circulation generated by the Piper PA-28 test aircraft. This study demonstrates the validity of the acoustic method in detecting aircraft wake vortices. Further investigations and applications using this technique are discussed.

Disciplines

Mechanical Engineering

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URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/provost_schol/57