Plasma Actuator Separation Control Investigated with Spectral Proper Orthogonal Decomposition

Abstract

A single dielectric-barrier discharge plasma actuator is an active flow control device that imparts momentum to the fluid through ion acceleration using electromagnetic forces and has been used to suppress flow separation. This paper studies flow over an airfoil and how adding a single dielectric-barrier discharge actuator influences flow characteristics through numerical modeling. Using the spectral proper orthogonal decomposition and large-eddy simulation, flow instabilities are analyzed at their different temporal and spatial scales in the wake region. This study aims to explore the viability of spectral proper orthogonal decomposition for separation control and correlate the decomposed flow modes to the different actuation modes.