Developments in Wingtip Vorticity Mitigation Techniques: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Wingtip vortices generated from aircraft wingtips, as a result of the pressure differential at the wingtip, constitute a major component of the total drag force, especially during take-off and landing. In addition to the drag issue, these vortices also pose a significant hazard to smaller aircraft flying in the wake of the larger airplane. The wingtip vortices play a crucial role in aerodynamic efficiency, fuel consumption, flight range, and aircraft stability. This paper presents an overview of the volume of work conducted over the past six decades to encapsulate the phenomena and the techniques devised to mitigate the wingtip vortices. It is shown that the aerodynamic efficiency of the examined wingtip devices ranges from 1% to 15%, depending on the type of wingtips and the flight conditions. Furthermore, it is pointed out that the decrease in fuel consumption ranges from 3.4% to 10%, and the reduction in the induced drag ranges from 5% to 20%.

Keywords

• wingtip vortex
• winglet
• vorticity
• airfoil
• induced drag
• turbulence