Runway Surface Structure Accelerating Wake Turbulence Decay

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current safety regulations for aircraft separation based on maximum take-off weight do not account for other factors influencing vortex development, leading to capacity bottlenecks and delays at airports, particularly at low altitudes where ground interaction enhances vortex intensity and reduces maneuvering space.

Innovation Solution

A ground surface structure with specific dimensions and elevation patterns is placed at the short end of the runway to generate secondary vortices that interact with primary wake turbulence, accelerating its decay and reducing exposure time for incoming aircraft.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If minimum longitudinal separations between aircraft are prescribed to avoid wake turbulence, then flight safety is improved, but runway capacity and take-off/landing frequencies are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflight safetyVSAvoidrunway capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention converts the harmful wake turbulence into a beneficial effect by using it to accelerate the decay of preceding vortices. The wake turbulence from following aircraft interacts with the structured surface to generate counter-rotating vortices that destroy harmful wake structures, thereby reducing safety distances while maintaining flight safety

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The structured ground surface acts as an intermediary between aircraft wake turbulence and the atmosphere. This intermediary structure (with specific elevation patterns) modifies the interaction between wake vortices and ground, accelerating vortex decay through controlled secondary vortex generation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If safety distances are increased to account for ground interaction effects, then wake turbulence danger is reduced, but aircraft maneuvering space is limited and capacity bottlenecks occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewake turbulence safetyVSAvoidaircraft maneuvering space

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention transforms the harmful ground interaction effect (which intensifies wake turbulence near ground) into a beneficial mechanism. By structuring the ground surface with specific elevations, the wake turbulence is converted into a tool that accelerates vortex decay, allowing safer operations at lower altitudes with reduced maneuvering space requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Productivity

If longitudinal separations are reduced to increase runway capacity, then productivity is improved, but the risk of aircraft flying into wake turbulence increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverunway capacityVSAvoidwake turbulence exposure risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention allows reduced longitudinal separations by converting wake turbulence from a harmful factor into a beneficial decay mechanism. The structured surface causes wake vortices to generate counter-rotating secondary vortices that accelerate the destruction of hazardous wake structures, enabling safer reduced separations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The structured ground surface is prepared in advance to create a predetermined vortex decay environment. The specific elevation patterns (1-10m heights at defined intervals) are configured beforehand to ensure that when aircraft wake interacts with the surface, vortex decay is accelerated in a controlled manner

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution increases safety and runway capacity by accelerating the disintegration of wake turbulence near the ground, making it possible to reduce longitudinal separations between aircraft and enhance flight movement efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

The surface structure is designed in such a way that the interaction of the surface structure with primary vortices of wake turbulence of an approaching aircraft, secondary vortices are generated, which interact with the primary vortices in such a way that the primary vortices disintegrate at an accelerated rate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVortex interaction: Vortex Ring

Data Source

PatentEP2670665B1Arrangement for accelerating decay of wake turbulence in the short final of an approach to a runway comrising the runway and a ground surface with a surface structure

Publication Date: 2016.09.21 DEUTSCHES ZENTRUM FÜR LUFT UND RAUMFAHRT E V

Figure 1~2

AI summary

The invention relates to a surface structure on a ground surface (106), located in the short final of an approach to a runway (101), with an associated start (104) of the runway (101) and a runway longitudinal axis (102). In order to attain accelerated decay of wake turbulence produced by an approaching aircraft, the surface structure has according to the invention a multiplicity of separate elevations (105) with an elevation height (h) ranging from 0.25 - 10 m, in particular from 1 - 5 m, wherein the individual elevations (105) have a spacing (a) between them, ranging from 1 - 600 m, 1- 400 m, 1 - 200 m, 1 - 100 m, 1 - 50 m, 1 - 25 m, 1 - 15 m, 1 -10 m, or in particular 2 - 8 m.