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Numerical Investigation of Dynamic Stall Flow Control with Nano-Second DBD Plasma Actuator

Mohammad Esmaeili, Ali | 2025

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  1. Type of Document: M.Sc. Thesis
  2. Language: Farsi
  3. Document No: 58574 (45)
  4. University: Sharif University of Technology
  5. Department: Aerospace Engineering
  6. Advisor(s): Ebrahimi, Abbas
  7. Abstract:
  8. The phenomenon of dynamic stall is one of the major challenges in aerodynamic engineering, significantly affecting the performance, stability, and efficiency of flight systems such as helicopters and rotorcraft. In this study, a nanosecond dielectric barrier discharge (NS-DBD) plasma actuator is employed as a novel method for active flow excitation and separation delay to control this phenomenon. The main objective of this research is to develop a novel feature-based subgrid modeling approach for the NS-DBD actuator, capable of representing the effects of its electrical and geometrical characteristics—including coupled energy, plasma thickness and length, heating duration, and gap distance—within a CFD numerical simulation framework. This approach considerably reduces computational cost while accurately predicting the physical influence of plasma on the boundary layer and the dynamic stall cycle. The results demonstrate that nanosecond-scale excitation leads to approximately a 35% reduction in the hysteresis loop area, thereby reducing structural oscillatory loads and improving aerodynamic stability. It is also observed that the thermal effect of the NS-DBD actuator exhibits maximum efficiency during the reattachment phase, where instantaneous heating accelerates flow reattachment and weakens the dynamic stall vortex. Parametric analysis reveals that the coupled energy and heating duration play decisive roles in excitation efficiency, with an optimal threshold identified around 10–12 mJ/cm² for maximum performance. Overall, this research, by introducing a feature-based modeling framework and deriving appropriate scaling relations, takes an effective step toward the industrial application of NS-DBD actuators in the design of flight systems—particularly rotorcraft—and establishes this technology as a promising and efficient solution for dynamic stall control
  9. Keywords:
  10. Flow Separation ; Separation Control ; Dynamic Stall ; Dielectric-Barrier Discharge (DBD)Plasma Actuator ; Aerodynamic Numerical Simulation ; Active Flow Control ; Nanosecond Plasma Actuator

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