Multiphysics Modeling of a Synthetic Jet Actuator in Operation

Active flow control is a promising technology for reducing noise, emissions, and power consumption in various applications. To better understand the performance of synthetic jet actuators, a computational model that couples structural mechanics with electrostatics, pressure acoustics, and fluid dyna...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Matthew G. M. Butler, Alis Ekmekci, Pierre E. Sullivan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-02-01
Series:Actuators
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0825/13/2/60
Description
Summary:Active flow control is a promising technology for reducing noise, emissions, and power consumption in various applications. To better understand the performance of synthetic jet actuators, a computational model that couples structural mechanics with electrostatics, pressure acoustics, and fluid dynamics is needed. The model presented here was validated against experimental data and then used to investigate the fluid behavior inside and outside the synthetic jet actuator cavity, the impacts of thermoviscous losses on capturing the acoustic response of the actuator, and the viability of different modeling methods of diaphragms in computational simulations. The results capture the feedback from the fluid onto the diaphragm and highlight the need for careful acoustic modeling.
ISSN:2076-0825