Analysis of local frequency response of flow to actuation: Application to the dielectric barrier discharge plasma actuator

Abstract

The present study provides a methodology to derive the local frequency response of flow under actuation, in terms of the magnitude of actuator induced perturbations. The method is applied to a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma actuator but can be extended to other kinds of pulsed actuation. The actuator body force term is introduced in the Navier-Stokes equations, from which the flow is locally approximated with a linear-time-invariant system. The proposed semi-phenomenological model includes the effect of both viscosity and external flow velocity, providing a system response in the frequency domain. A validity criterium is additionally devised for the estimation of the threshold frequency below which the developed approach can be applied. Analytical results are compared with experimental data for a typical DBD plasma actuator operating in quiescent flow and in a laminar boundary layer. Good agreement is obtained between analytical and experimental results for cases below the model validity threshold frequency. Results demonstrate an efficient and simple approach towards prediction of the response of a convective flow to pulsed actuation.