What is vortex in aerodynamics?

A vortex generator (VG) is an aerodynamic device, consisting of a small vane usually attached to a lifting surface (or airfoil, such as an aircraft wing) or a rotor blade of a wind turbine. VGs may also be attached to some part of an aerodynamic vehicle such as an aircraft fuselage or a car.

How does vortex lift work?

Vortex lift works by capturing vortices generated from the sharply swept leading edge of the wing. The vortex, formed roughly parallel to the leading edge of the wing, is trapped by the airflow and remains fixed to the upper surface of the wing.

How are vortex formed in aerodynamics?

The higher-pressure air below a wing spills up over the wing tip into the area of lower-pressure air above. The wing’s forward motion spins this upward spill of air into a long spiral, like a small tornado, that trails off the wing tip. These wing tip vortices create a form of pressure drag called vortex drag.

What is supersonic airflow?

When an airplane is flying at supersonic speed, the entire airplane is experiencing supersonic airflow. At this speed, the shock wave which formed on top of the wing during transonic flight has moved all the way aft and has attached itself to the wing trailing edge. Supersonic speed is from Mach 1.20 to 5.0.

How is a vortex created?

It is basically formed when a fluid is stirred or spun. This natural phenomenon can take place on land, air, and water. When vortices are formed, they can complexly move, stretch, twist, and interact with the surrounding fluid. Once a vortex is moving, it carries with it angular and linear momentum, energy, and mass.

How do delta wings generate lift?

Low-speed flight Pure delta wings exhibit flow separation at high angles of attack and high drag at low speeds. At low speeds, a delta wing requires a high angle of attack to maintain lift. A slender delta creates a characteristic vortex pattern over the upper surface which enhances lift.

How starting vortex is formed?

The starting vortex is a vortex which forms in the air adjacent to the trailing edge of an airfoil as it is accelerated from rest in a fluid. It leaves the airfoil (which now has an equal but opposite “bound vortex” around it), and remains (nearly) stationary in the flow.

Is Mach 5 possible?

Because that flight only lasted a few seconds, the record for the longest sustained flight above Mach 5 belongs to the Boeing X-51, another unmanned experimental aircraft, which in 2013 flew for over three minutes at Mach 5.1 (about 3,400 mph).

Is a black hole a vortex?

Like the whirlpool created by stirring a cup of coffee with one of those tiny straws, a spinning black hole creates a “gravitational vortex” in the space-time around it.