Flow Interaction Between Urban Structures and Vertiport Platforms: A Large-Eddy Simulation Study

Abstract:
To examine the unsteady aerodynamic environment surrounding vertiports, this research performs high-fidelity Large-Eddy Simulations of two full-scale square cylinders with aspect ratios of 2 and 1, representing prospective urban and vertiport configurations. To ensure realistic conditions, a volumetric momentum-source term is utilized to generate atmospheric turbulence internally within the computational domain. Numerical results reveal severely disturbed flows, with total turbulence intensities reaching a peak of 38% near the first vertiport structure. While the downstream vertiport benefited from a 40% reduction in maximum turbulence intensity due to the sheltering effect of the upstream building wake, the flow in its vicinity still maintains a powerful content. To evaluate operational safety conditions, multiple flight trajectories were analyzed approaching two distinct end-points located 4m and 11m above the center of each vertiport model from three directions: aligned with the wind, against the wind, and sidewise. Based on the evaluation of transient velocity components across these trajectories, and following the Federal Aviation Administration compliant 8:1 approach slopes, this study proposes a robust operational strategy centered on lateral approaches followed by vertical descents from higher altitudes. This maneuver sequence is designed to avoid the severe and sudden gust-induced disturbances prevalent in the immediate vicinity of the vertiport.

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