Experimental Investigation on the Characteristics of Sliding Discharge Plasma Aerodynamic Actuation

A new electrical discharge called sliding discharge was developed to generate plasmaaerodynamic actuation for flow control.A microsecond-pulse high voltage with a DC componentwas used to energize a three-electrode actuator to generate sliding discharge.The characteristicsof plasma aerodynamic actuation by sliding discharge were experimentally investigated.Dischargemorphology shows that sliding discharge is formed when energized by properly adjustingmicrosecond-pulse and DC voltage.Compared to dielectric barrier discharge (DBD),the plasmaextension of sliding discharge is quasi-diffusive and stable but longer and more intensive.Resultsfrom particle image velocimetry (PIV) test indicate that plasma aerodynamic actuation by slidingdischarge can induce a ’starting vortex’ and a quasi-steady ’near-wall jet’.Body force inducedby plasma aerodynamic actuation is about the order of mN,which is stronger than that inducedby single DBD.It is inferred that microsecond-pulse sliding discharge may be more effective togenerate large-scale plasma aerodynamic actuation,which is very promising for improving aircraftaerodynamic characteristics and propulsion efficiency.