Crosswind Effects on Engline Inlets: The Inlet Vortex

Abstract

The effects of the inlet vortex on engines operating near the ground have been studied for more than 50 years, but the phenomenon is not yet completely understood. In this work a review of the past research is conducted, together with the existing patents of systems that protect the engine from vortices. Computational fluid dynamics is then used, on a DLR-F6 modified nacelle, to allow a more detailed look into the inlet-vortex phenomenon, its origin and the effect it has on ground pressures. It is also shown that the trailing vortex, which coexists with the inlet vortex, originates on the nacelle surface and is ingested by the inlet. Three different inlet-vortex intensity regimes are defined and new correlations are proposed to evaluate the existence of inlet vortices.