Experimental Survey of Different Configurations of DBD Plasma Actuator on Aerodynamics Forces on Flat Plate

Plasma actuators application in flow control was a focus of attention in recent decade. Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) plasma actuators are a subgroup of plasma actuators owing simple structure and performance, fast response time, low power consumption, Low Stealth and lack of moving parts. In this study, the effects of using multiple DBD plasma actuators at different distances and numbers to produce aerodynamic forces were experimentally evaluated on a flat plate in air atmosphere. DBD plasma actuator performance was directly related to the voltage and frequency of the electric current; by raising the voltage above the breakdown voltage, the rate of thrust and lift forces will increase; while the frequency of electric current significantly influences the breakdown voltage. Furthermore, the study reveals that the distance between the DBD plasma actuators has a major role on the amount of aerodynamic forces, offering more impact in comparison with number of DBD plasma actuators.