Investigation of an active flow control system by multi-physics simulation and experimental validation.

Flow control in aeronautic field plays significant role. Increasing lift by dumping of flow separation and drag reduction using active flow control system, piezoelectric (PZT) synthetic jet actuators, has been investigated. Results from multi-physics simulations and from measurements are presented in this paper. The potential of drag reduction and application fluid related systems (e.g. highlift systems) is very promising if one considers that a 1 percent saving in world consumption of jet fuel was worth about 1.25 million dollars a day of direct operating costs (in 2002) [1]. Therefore, proper determination of actuator’s parameters, geometry and working conditions will help to increase effectiveness of flow control system. Total system configuration used in a synthetic jet actuator simulation is presented in Figure 1.