Experimenatl validation of aerodynamic drag reduction of a high-speed train model using barrier discharge plasma actuaors

초록

Passive flow control based on shape improvements of high-speed train has been employed to reduce aerodynamic drag but reached the limitation. Recently, plasma flow control has been studied as an active flow control to overcome the limitation of the passive flow control. The plasma flow control utilizes electrons that are accelerated by the plasma and collided with gas particles, generating the induced flow.1？3 Dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma actuator has been used to generate the plasma in the flow stream. The DBD actuator generating a glow discharge at the atmospheric temperature and pressure has merits such as low power consumption, no moving parts, long lifetime, easy maintenance, high reliability, good dynamic characteristics and compactness.4 The plasma flow control using the ionic wind by the DBD actuator is employed for reducing the aerodynamic drags by controlling a turbulent boundary layer and flow separation.5 The performance characteristics of the DBD actuator according to the geometric and discharge parameters were already carried out. In the present study, the flow separation on a high-speed train model was controlled using DBD actuators. First, the flow motion on the train model was visualized when the plasma was discharged. Next, Wind-tunnel tests were performed to verify the plasma flow control reducing the aerodynamic drag of the train model.