Control of a Transitioning Boundary Layer using Surface-Mounted Electro Active Polymers

Abstract

Micro air vehicles (MAV) are a major focus of aerodynamics today with many military as well as civilian applications. MAV flight is dominated by the unsteady characteristics of low Reynolds number flows. Three-dimensional separations may occur at random on different parts of the wing, causing highly unsteady forces and moments, as well as full wing stall. In the present work an Electro-Active Polymer (EAP) actuator was examined as a feasible flow control actuator with application to low Reynolds number flows. The performance of the EAP was evaluated using a laser displacement device, where the displacements generated under selected driving frequencies and input voltages were recorded. It was shown that the deflections could reach up to 0.35 mm at frequencies below 40 Hz. The surface deflection was found to be parabolic across the span and width of the actuator. Hot-wire anemometry measurements were conducted on a flat plate equipped with a trailing edge flap in a low Reynolds number wind tunnel to study t...