Rollup and near-field behavior of a tip vortex

The formation and growth of a tip vortex along the tip of a rectangular high-lift wing and its subsequent development in the near field by using a miniature seven-hole pressure probe and particle image velocimetry at low Reynolds numbers was characterized. Special attention was focused on the effects of airfoil incidence angle,and reynolds number, and sweep angle on the vortex strength, size, and tangential and axial velocity distributions. It was anticipated that the present measurements will add more information to the understanding of a tip vortex and its prediction.