Pattern-Identification Study of the Flow in Proximity of a Plasma Actuator

In order to better understand transition delay using Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) plasma actuators, investigations into the spatial velocity distribution produced by such an actuator in quiescent air have been performed. The velocity fields in the proximity of the actuator are obtained by means of particle image velocimetry (PIV). The experiments have been conducted for several electrode sizes, modulation frequencies and actuator voltages. In the vicinity of the upper electrode the existence of a recirculation zone and fluctuations that lead to instabilities in laminar boundary layers have been observed. Proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) is used to identify coherent structures in the flow and in the plasma itself. Flow patterns such as translatory and rotatory fluctuation modes superposed to the mean flow are thereby identified. Correlations between fluctuations of plasma intensity and velocity distribution are also identified. Topological analysis is used to convert the patterns into trajectories of singularities.

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