Minimally intrusive wingtip vortex wake mitigation using microvane arrays

1. An airfoil tip vortex mitigation arrangement comprising one or more flow directors configured and positioned to re-direct freestream air over a low pressure surface of an airfoil, the one or more flow directors being arranged to direct freestream air toward a tip of the airfoil in such a way as to displace and weaken a main tip vortex generated at the tip of the airfoil.

2. An airfoil tip vortex mitigation arrangement as defined in claim 1 in which the one or more flow directors are arranged to direct freestream air in such a way as to displace and weaken a core of the main tip vortex generated at a tip of the airfoil.

3. An airfoil tip vortex mitigation arrangement as defined in claim 2 in which the one or more flow directors comprise one or more vortex generators positioned adjacent a tip of the airfoil on a low pressure surface of the airfoil and oriented to direct freestream air such that one or more vane vortices are formed on the low pressure surface of the airfoil in respective positions inhibiting relatively high pressure air that is rolling around the tip and aft from a high pressure region of the wing to form a core of the main tip vortex.

4. An airfoil tip vortex mitigation arrangement as defined in claim 3 in which the one or more vortex generators are positioned and oriented to cause the vane vortices to turn in the same helical sense as the main airfoil tip vortex.

5. An airfoil tip vortex mitigation arrangement as defined in claim 4 in which the one or more vortex generators comprise a plurality of vanes extending from the low pressure surface of the airfoil.

6. An airfoil tip vortex mitigation arrangement as defined in claim 5 in which the plurality of vanes is disposed in a vane array along a tip of the airfoil and the vanes of the vane array are oriented to form an array of vane vortices on the low pressure surface of the airfoil adjacent and along the tip of the airfoil.

7. An airfoil tip vortex mitigation arrangement as defined in claim 6 in which one or more vanes of the vane array are oriented and positioned to form respective vane vortices in respective positions where respective centers of rotation of the vane vortices are spaced inboard from a center of rotation of the airfoil tip vortex.

8. An airfoil tip vortex mitigation arrangement as defined in claim 7 in which each vane of the vane array is oriented at an angle of approximately 45 degrees measured relative to the direction of freestream airflow about an axis generally normal to a portion of the low pressure surface supporting the vane such that trailing edges of the vanes are angled outward relative their respective leading edges.

9. An airfoil tip vortex mitigation arrangement as defined in claim 7 in which at least one vane of the vane array has a height approximately 0.4% of the airfoil tip chord length.

10. An airfoil tip vortex mitigation arrangement as defined in claim 7 in which at least one vane of the vane array has a ratio of length to height of approximately 8.

11. An airfoil tip vortex mitigation arrangement as defined in claim 7 in which the vane array extends aft along the airfoil tip to a point where beneficial effects no longer outweigh the associated additional drag penalty.

12. An airfoil tip vortex mitigation arrangement as defined in claim 11 in which the vane array extends aft along the airfoil tip to a point adjacent a position along the airfoil tip where the main vortex detaches from the airfoil.

13. An airfoil tip vortex mitigation arrangement comprising one or more vortex generator vanes carried on a low pressure surface of the airfoil along and adjacent a tip of the airfoil and oriented and positioned to direct freestream air outboard such that the freestream air impedes circulation of the airfoil tip vortex over the airfoil and displaces a core of the airfoil tip vortex outboard, the freestream air being directed to form vane vortices rotating in the same sense as the airfoil tip vortex and having respective centers of rotation disposed within the airfoil tip vortex and spaced inward from a center of rotation of the airfoil tip vortex.

14. An airfoil tip vortex mitigation arrangement as defined in claim 13 in which each vane of the vane array is oriented at an angle of approximately 45 degrees measured relative to the direction of freestream airflow about an axis generally normal to a portion of the low pressure surface supporting the vane such that trailing edges of the vanes are angled outward relative their respective leading edges.

15. An airfoil tip vortex mitigation arrangement as defined in claim 13 in which the vane array extends aft along the airfoil tip to a point where beneficial effects no longer outweigh the associated additional drag penalty.

16. An airfoil tip vortex mitigation arrangement as defined in claim 13 in which the vane array extends aft along the airfoil tip to a point adjacent a position along the airfoil tip where the main vortex detaches from the airfoil.

17. An airfoil tip vortex mitigation arrangement as defined in claim 13 in which at least one vane of the vane array has a height approximately 0.4% of the airfoil tip chord length.

18. An airfoil tip vortex mitigation arrangement as defined in claim 13 in which at least one vane of the vane array has a ratio of length to height of approximately 8.

19. A method of mitigating an airfoil tip vortex, the method including the step of displacing and weakening a main tip vortex generated at a tip of an airfoil by redirecting freestream air over a low pressure surface of the airfoil in such a way as to form vane vortices rotating in the same sense as the airfoil tip vortex and having respective centers of rotation disposed within the airfoil tip vortex and spaced inward from a center of rotation of the airfoil tip vortex.