Piezoelectric synthetic jet actuators for active flow control

Research: Synthetic Jets for Active Flow Control
Sponsor: NASA
Faculty: C.S. Lynch
Research Scientist: S. Keller
Students: TBD
Partner: David Menicovitch, Actasys

Link to related work:

Computational modeling for optimization of active membranes used in synthetic jet actuators. Devices improve flow efficiency and reduce fuel cost.

Brief Description:
Synthetic jet actuators interfere with the boundary layer and can be used to reduce flow separation. This increased fuel efficiency.

Approach:
Develop computational models of membrane type actuators coupled to fluid in cavity. Predict jet formation. Validate models against experimental results.