The vortical flow over the suction side of a 650 sweep delta wing at high angles of attack is investigated in the University of Washington water tunnel using digital particle image velocimetry (DPIV). The method is first validated and then used to qualitatively and quantitatively describe the development of the leading edge vortex (LEV) both upstream and downstream of vortex breakdown. The circulation and azimuthal velocity profile in the vortex are measured and reveal that the maximum circulation of the LEV increases nearly linearly in the downstream direction up to the point of vortex breakdown. Circulation and velocity measurements in the solid-body rotational part of the LEV core, however, reveal that once the core is formed near the apex of the wing, the circulation there remains constant until just prior to breakdown, and no further vorticity is added to the core from the shear layer. The secondary vortex is found to be the key player in separating the primary vortex core from the shear layer. This model of the flow field contradicts the generally accepted conical nature of delta wing flow. Current vortex breakdown suppression methods are analyzed in light of this new model. A numerical simulation based on the vortex filament method is also used to further the self-induction theory of vortex breakdown.

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