Transient growth instability cancelation by a plasma actuator array

This study investigates an actuation scheme that can be integrated as part of a feedback control system in the laboratory for the purpose of negating the transient growth instability in a Blasius boundary layer and delaying transition. The actuators investigated here consist of a spanwise array of symmetric plasma actuators, which are capable of generating spanwise-periodic counter-rotating vortices. Three different actuator geometries are investigated, resulting in 45, 67 and 70% reduction of the total disturbance energy produced inside the boundary layer by an array of roughness elements. It is demonstrated that the control effectiveness of the actuators can be significantly improved by optimizing the geometry of the array.