Computational Study on Flow Control Characteristics of Synthetic Jets over a Blended Wing Body Configuration

Abstract

Flow control using synthetic jets has been computationally investigated to improve aerodynamic performance of blended wing body configuration under different jet location at a relatively high angle of attack. Experimental and numerical data were examined by analyzing the baseline characteristics of a blended wing body configuration when synthetic jet was off. Based on the aerodynamic data and flow structure, a strategy for flow separation control on the blended wing body configuration was established. Two types of exit locations were considered: one is outboard array jets, and the other is inboard array jets. The interactions of synthetic jets with a free stream were performed by analyzing the vortical structure and the surface pressure characteristics. The effectiveness of flow control was evaluated by examining the aerodynamic coefficient and flow structures. As a result, the vortex breakdown point is moved toward the outboard section by synthetic jets, and the separation flow shows a stable structure. This indicates that the synthetic jets under suitable actuating conditions beneficially change the local flow feature and vortex structure to bring a significant improvement of the wing aerodynamics acting on the blended wing body configuration in the stall angle.