Amélioration de l'aérodynamisme des ailes d'avion par actionnement plasma

The paper will present experimental and numerical investigation of improved aerodynamics performance of a 2D extruded airfoil by plasma actuation. The aim of the research is to develop three promising flow control concepts using solid-state electro-fluidic (plasma) actuators to achieve reduced drag as well as lift control at take-off/landing. Aerodynamic plasma actuators are solid-state devices that convert electricity directly into flow acceleration through partial air ionization. The most common plasma actuator, the dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) actuator, essentially consists of two offset electrodes separated by a dielectric across which a high-voltage low-amperage AC input is applied. The ions in the air created by the high electric field between the two electrodes are accelerated by this field and transfer their momentum to the inert air particles through collisions, resulting in an acceleration of a very thin layer of air adjacent to the surface. This thin, simple, high bandwidth actuator is easy to integrate and thus offer the most practical yet solution for widespread use of flow control to revolutionize aircraft aerodynamics. The three flow control concepts studied involve placing the actuator on the suction surface of a wing to delay boundary layer transition and thus reduced viscous drag and to control boundary layer separation to control lift at take-off and landing without the need for slats, flaps and spoilers. While these concepts had been previously explored, they were only tested empirically at small-scale and very low-speed due to limitations in plasma actuator strength. The current research aimed to test these concepts at higher speeds (up to 30 m/s) using more recent DBD actuators with higher actuator strength and perform more detailed measurements so that these data can be used to validate CFD codes that can be used for assessing the concept at realistic aircraft scales and flight conditions. Wind tunnel experiments were carried out on a 11.67 inch-chord Aerospatiale-A airfoil with a DBD actuator placed on the suction side at a 15, 20 and 30 m/s incoming flow velocity for a Reynolds number of 2,8×105, 3,8×105 and 5,7×105, respectively, and an angle of attack (AOA) of 3º for concept one and 13.3° for concept two and three. The experiments were performed in a closed-loop wind tunnel with a square 24 inch × 24 inch test section. The 2D extruded wing was mounted vertically wall to wall at one chord downstream the entrance of the 96 inch long test section. Lift was calculated by pressure integration from 48 static pressure holes placed on the wing surface.