Active control of pressure fluctuations due to flow over Helmholtz resonators

Abstract Grazing flows over Helmholtz resonators may result in self-sustained flow oscillations at the Helmholtz acoustic resonance frequency of the cavity system. The associated pressure fluctuations may be undesirable. Many solutions have been proposed to solve this problem including, for example, leading edge spoilers, trailing edge deflectors, and leading edge flow diffusers. Most of these control devices are “passive”, i.e., they do not involve dynamic control systems. Active control methods, which do require dynamic controls, have been implemented with success for different cases of flow instabilities. Previous investigations of the control of flow-excited cavity resonance have used mainly one or more loudspeakers located within the cavity wall. In the present study, oscillated spoilers hinged near the leading edge of the cavity orifice were used. Experiments were performed using a cavity installed within the test section wall of a wind tunnel. A microphone located within the cavity was used as the feedback sensor. A loop shaping feedback control design methodology was used in order to ensure robust controller performance over varying flow conditions. Cavity pressure level attenuation of up to 20dB was achieved around the critical velocity (i.e., the velocity for which the fundamental excitation frequency matches the Helmholtz resonance frequency of the cavity), relative to the level in the presence of the spoiler held stationary. The required actuation effort was small. The spoiler peak displacement was typically only 4% of the mean spoiler angle (approximately 1′). The control scheme was found to provide robust performance for transient operating conditions. Oscillated leading edge spoilers offer potential advantages over loudspeakers for cavity resonance control, including a reduced encumbrance (especially for low-frequency applications), and a reduced actuation effort.