Production, Analysis and Control of Unsteady Vortical Wake-Airfoil Interactions: Harnessing the Unique Capabilities of Active Flow Control for Unsteady Aerodynamics Research
Abstract
Unsteady aerodynamics research associated with vortex-body interactions (VBI) has a long history examining both isolated (vortices separated by a distance greater than the characteristic length scale of the body) and non-isolated (vortices separated by a distance less than the characteristic length scale of the body) encounters. In both cases, experimentally generating a vortex or train of vortices that approximates real-world flight conditions is non-trivial. Disturbance generators are typically based on mechanical devices (e.g., pitching/plunging airfoils) or fixed objects (e.g., bluff bodies). These studies have provided insight into important parameters governing VBI, but do not allow production of controlled disturbances at conditions relevant to many practical applications (e.g., rotorcraft, turbomachinery, etc). This work examines the use of active flow control (AFC),specifically nanosecond pulse driven dielectric barrier discharge (ns-DBD) plasma actuators, as an enabling technology for the study of VBI. Two NACA 0012 airfoils are employed to act as disturbance and target bodies.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 26, 2018
- Accession Number
- AD1051924
Entities
People
- Jesse C. Little
Organizations
- University of Arizona