Stabilization of Laminar Boundary-Layer Flow using Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma Actuators

A numerical method is developed to study the stabilizing effect of dielectric barrier discharge plasma actuators on laminar boundary-layer flow. A finite difference approach based on a Keller box discretization is chosen to solve the Falkner-Skan transformed boundary-layer equations. The fluid dynamic effect of the flow-control device is implemented as a body-force field, derived quantitatively from previous measurements using particle image velocimetry. The resulting laminar boundary-layer flow is compared to experimental wind tunnel measurements and the effect on hydrodynamic stability is investigated in the framework of linear stability theory. A good agreement between experimentally acquired and numerically predicted transition locations based on an empirical function is obtained, rendering the numerical scheme valuable as a design tool for DBD based flow control applications. (© 2012 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)