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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Annunziata, Rémy, Bonne, Nicolas, Garnier, François
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.02706
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author Annunziata, Rémy
Bonne, Nicolas
Garnier, François
author_facet Annunziata, Rémy
Bonne, Nicolas
Garnier, François
contents The present study investigates the impact of engine position on contrail formation and near-field evolution in a realistic three-dimensional aircraft configuration. Detailed numerical simulations are conducted using a Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) approach coupled with mesh adaptation techniques. A Eulerian microphysical model is used to characterize contrail ice crystal properties and their evolution under varying dilution conditions. The setup is based on a Boeing 777-like geometry, including fuselage, wings, engines, and tailplane. Two microphysical activation scenarios are considered: one incorporating adsorption-based ice nucleation and the other assuming fully activated soot particles. The latter for two soot number emission indices. The dilution process and wake structure exhibit a strong dependence on engine placement, which significantly influences plume saturation. In highly diluted configurations, enhanced early-stage mixing reduces plume temperature and increases relative humidity, favoring the growth of larger ice crystals. Depending on the soot number concentration, vapor depletion effects may outweigh dilution-driven changes in water vapor availability. In adsorption-limited activation scenarios, increased dilution reduces the concentration of sulfur species, leading to a lower activation fraction and the formation of smaller ice crystals. Additionally, across the scenarios, the modified jet-vortex interaction alters particle distribution and their access to water vapor, further shaping their growth. These effects ultimately impact the contrail's optical properties, particularly its optical thickness.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2508_02706
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Numerical investigation of engine position effects on contrail formation and evolution in the near-field of a realistic aircraft configuration
Annunziata, Rémy
Bonne, Nicolas
Garnier, François
Fluid Dynamics
The present study investigates the impact of engine position on contrail formation and near-field evolution in a realistic three-dimensional aircraft configuration. Detailed numerical simulations are conducted using a Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) approach coupled with mesh adaptation techniques. A Eulerian microphysical model is used to characterize contrail ice crystal properties and their evolution under varying dilution conditions. The setup is based on a Boeing 777-like geometry, including fuselage, wings, engines, and tailplane. Two microphysical activation scenarios are considered: one incorporating adsorption-based ice nucleation and the other assuming fully activated soot particles. The latter for two soot number emission indices. The dilution process and wake structure exhibit a strong dependence on engine placement, which significantly influences plume saturation. In highly diluted configurations, enhanced early-stage mixing reduces plume temperature and increases relative humidity, favoring the growth of larger ice crystals. Depending on the soot number concentration, vapor depletion effects may outweigh dilution-driven changes in water vapor availability. In adsorption-limited activation scenarios, increased dilution reduces the concentration of sulfur species, leading to a lower activation fraction and the formation of smaller ice crystals. Additionally, across the scenarios, the modified jet-vortex interaction alters particle distribution and their access to water vapor, further shaping their growth. These effects ultimately impact the contrail's optical properties, particularly its optical thickness.
title Numerical investigation of engine position effects on contrail formation and evolution in the near-field of a realistic aircraft configuration
topic Fluid Dynamics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.02706