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This study presents a comprehensive investigation into the near-field dynamics of the wing-tip tri-vortex system on a supercritical wing, employing high-resolution, compressible Wall-Resolved Large-Eddy Simulations (WR-LES) validated by Stereo-Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV). The research focuses on the formation and evolution of the primary (PV), secondary (SV), and tertiary (TV) vortices at Reynolds number ( R e c = 620 , 000 ) and angles of attack of α = 5 ° and α = 10 ° . By performing a Lagrangian analysis of the velocity gradient tensor (VGT) invariants along each vortex core trajectory, the fundamental strain-vorticity relationship governing their distinct behaviors are quantified. The results demonstrate that the PV exhibits wake-like characteristics, dominated by vortex stretching and significant dissipation due to consistent biaxial strain. In contrast, the SV retains a stable, jet-like profile, characterized by a highly rotation-dominated core with low strain. The TV is identified as a youthful PV that acquires wake-like statistics downstream. A comparison between LES and PIV reveals that the absence of streamwise gradients in the experimental data obscures the canonical “teardrop” shape in the Q – R plane, underscoring the necessity of a full VGT for accurate turbulence characterization. This work motivates the link between the unique near-field dynamics of each vortex and their connection to wall-pressure fluctuations and far-field acoustics, identifying the strain-dominated PV as the dominant source of surface pressure unsteadiness and providing insights for future targeted flow control and noise reduction strategies at the wingtip.
Deng et al. (Tue,) studied this question.