Simulation of NACA0015 flow separation control by burst-mode plasma actuation

Abstract

Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) plasma actuators can generate trains of vortices under burst mode actuation, which is very different from the wall jet flow under steady operation. To clarify the mechanism of DBD under burst mode actuation on separation control, the improved simulation model of burst-mode plasma actuation was developed and validated, and then, the flow field of NACA0015 under 12° and 14° of stall was numerically simulated and compared with the experimental result simultaneously. The results show that the DBD plasma actuator under burst mode actuation is very efficient for separation flow control, and the ability of separation flow control under F+ = 10 is more efficient than that under F+ = 0.3–5 investigated. The mechanism of burst mode actuation proposed that trains of vortices shed by burst mode actuation could enhance the momentum transfer between the boundary layer and the main flow, and the vortex of large scale shed from the leading edge could merge with the vortices of small scale shed by the DBD plasma actuator with burst mode actuation, which results in the reattachment of separated flow.