Suction and oscillatory blowing actuator modeling and validation

Enhancing the ability to control flows in different configurations and flow conditions can lead to improved flow-related, energy-efficient systems. Certain active flow control actuators are effective at low Mach numbers, but the momentum and vorticity they provide limits their utilization to low speeds. At higher Mach numbers, robust unsteady, effective, and practical fluidic actuators are a critical, enabling technology in any flow control system, though they are largely missing. A new actuator concept, based on the combination of steady suction and oscillatory blowing, is presented. The actuator achieves near-sonic speeds at a frequency range from 10 Hz to at least 1 kHz. It has no moving parts and therefore is expected to have superior effectiveness and reliability. The operating principles of the new actuator are presented along with two computational models and their experimental validation.