Bending plasma actuators boost airflow control on sharp edges

What is it about?

Plasma actuators—devices that use electrically charged gas to influence airflow—are often mounted on sharp edges of aircraft or engines to control flow separation or shockwaves. While most studies assume these “bent” actuators behave like flat ones, our experiments show they actually work quite differently. Even when using the same amount of electrical energy, a plasma actuator bent at a sharp angle creates stronger near-wall jets at low voltages and shoots hot bursts of air at steeper angles at high voltages—both effects can significantly improve flow control. It means engineers can’t simply treat bent actuators as if they were flat; their shape matters. Our findings help clarify how to design more effective plasma-based flow control systems for high-speed vehicles.

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Photo by Daniele Levis Pelusi on Unsplash

Photo by Daniele Levis Pelusi on Unsplash