Coherent structures in plasma-actuator controlled supersonic jets: Axisymmetric and mixed azimuthal modes

High-fidelity simulations are employed to study the effect of eight localized arc filament plasma actuators placed around the periphery of a Mach 1.3 converging-diverging nozzle exit. Emphasis is placed on understanding the coherent structures generated by axisymmetric (m = 0), flapping or first mixed (m = +/- 1) and second mixed (m = +/- 2) modes, which are excited at the jet column-mode frequency corresponding to a Strouhal number based on jet diameter of 0.3. Baseline (no control) and constant excitation (actuators on continuously) cases are also simulated. Comparisons with experimental results indicate that the computational model reproduces the main features induced by the actuators. Furthermore, the mean flow exhibits many similarities with the theoretical predictions of Cohen and Wygnanski [J. Fluid Mech. 176, 221 (1987)]. Overall, the results indicate a complex coherent structure generation, evolution, and disintegration process. For m = +/- 1, the phase-averaged flow reveals successive distorted elliptic vortex rings with axes in the flapping plane but alternating on either side of the jet axis. This generates a chain of structures each of which interacts with its predecessor on one side of the major plane and its successor on the other. Through self and mutual induction, the leading segment of each loop is pinched and passes through the previous ring before rapidly breaking up. The m = +/- 2 mode yields elliptic structures with major axes of successive rings being aligned with the two symmetry planes, which are orthogonal to each other. The minor axis side is pulled downstream faster than the rest of the structure because of the higher velocity near the jet centerline and self-induced effects, yielding a horse-shoe shape when viewed in profile. The m = 0 mode exhibits axisymmetric roll-up events, with vortex ribs in the braid regions connecting successive large coherent structures. The constant excitation (with largest energy input) and baseline cases are similar to each other, indicating that the direct effect of heating is negligible. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3627215]