A simulation study was conducted in order to investigate the influence of vortex deformation on wake encounter characteristics. Wake vortices tend to be strongly deformed during the decay process, depending on the atmospheric conditions in terms of turbulence and thermal stratification. For quantification of the influence of vortex deformation, encounters of an aircraft of the ‘Medium’ category behind a generator aircraft of the ‘Heavy’ category were simulated with straight vortices and with realistically deformed vortices derived from large-eddy simulations. All relevant parameters that influence the encounter characteristics, such as encounter angles and positions, were varied within a wide range. In order to cover all kinds of vortex deformation, encounters with different vortex ages from 16-136 seconds were simulated. Hence, all relevant phases during the vortex decay from nearly straight and wavy vortices to vortex rings were considered.

The parameter variation study revealed that on average the impact on the encountering aircraft is less with deformed vortices than with straight vortices of comparable strength. Especially with vortex rings, the encountering aircraft is exposed to a much smaller impact. However, the results also show a larger aircraft response during encounters with wavy vortices just prior to vortex linking. The maximum aircraft response with wavy vortices is stronger than with straight vortices of comparable strength. Also, the strongest encounters occur under greater encounter angles with deformed vortices than with straight ones.