Separation Control by Single Nonthermal Plasma Discharge

The formation of a plasma discharge on the surface of aerodynamic bodies can be helpful to manipulate flow conditions. Here, plasma is used to mitigate the massive flow separation observed for an airfoil model at a high incidence angle. High-speed flow visualizations are provided to demonstrate the plasma/gas interaction for flow in initially quiescent air and in the presence of a 20 m/s cross-stream velocity. The results reveal that flow reattachment results from a significant modification of the vortex street developing within the free separated shear layer.