Three-dimensional span effects of high-aspect ratio synthetic jet forcing for separation control on a low Reynolds number airfoil

摘要

The three-dimensional structure of the reattached flow caused by synthetic jet actuation on an airfoil was investigated using surface flow visualization. Without active control, the flow was stalled with laminar boundary layer separation occurring near the leading edge. Tuft and oil visualization showed the shape and spanwise extent of the attached flow due to a finite span synthetic jet where the effect of excitation frequency and blowing ratio was the focus. For all excitation frequencies tested, a similar contraction of the spanwise extent of the attached flow towards the trailing edge was observed due to edge effects of the finite span jet. Increasing the blowing ratio was found to decrease the amount by which the attached flow contracted.