Effect of forcing the tip-gap of a NACA0065 airfoil using plasma actuators: A proof-of-concept study

A proof-of-concept study is presented to understand the effect of continuous forcing by a dielectric-barrier-discharge (DBD) plasma actuator on the strength of the vortices formed in the tip-gap of a single NACA0065 airfoil. The airfoil was mounted with variable tip gaps in the test-section of a suction-type wind tunnel. Continuous forcing was generated by mounting a straight DBD actuator in the tip gap. The flow field was investigated experimentally by dynamic-pressure measurements, and stereoscopic-particle-image-velocimetry (SPIV). In addition, URANS was performed to investigate the flow field in the tip gap region, where SPIV could not be conducted. The results showed that the effectiveness of forcing decreased with increasing tip-gaps and free-stream velocity. The maximum cancellation of the vortex was observed when the blowing ratio was approximately 0.93, with a tip gap of 0.02c (c = chord) and free stream velocity of 2.7 m/s. Both experimental and numerical results showed that in this particular case, the DBD actuator created a strong reverse flow opposing the direction of tip flow. This reverse flow altered the pressure gradient in the tip gap region and canceled the vortex altogether. (c) 2020 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.