Computational Analysis of Actuation Techniques Impact on the Flow Control around the Ahmed Body

Abstract

Active flow control with jet devices is a promising approach for vehicle aerodynamics control. In this work an extended computational study is performed comparing three different actuation strategies for active flow control around the square back Ahmed body at Reynolds number 500,000 (based on the vehicle height). Numerical simulations are run using a Large Eddy Simulation (LES) approach, well adapted to calculate the unsteady high Reynolds number flow control using periodic jet devices. computations are validated comparing to in-house experiments for uncontrolled and some controlled cases. The novelty of this investigation is mainly related to the in-depth study of the base flow and actuation approaches by an accurate LES method and their comparison to experiments. Here, several simulations are performed to estimate the effect of active controls on the flow topology and the drag reduction. Beside the continuous blowing jet, three periodic actuation techniques including periodic blowing and suction as well as the zero flux synthetic jet devices are explored. The slots are implemented discontinuously in order to achieve a better control efficiency linked to vortex generation. In this framework, spectral analyses on global aerodynamical quantities, rear pressure/drag coefficient behavior examination as well as wake structure investigations are performed in order to compare these jet actuations. As a result, shear layer variations are observed during the blowing phase, but the main flow topology change occurs with suction and synthetic jets. Rear back pressure is therefore substantially increased.