Numerical Simulation of Supersonic Shear Layer with Plasma Actuator

The plasma actuator can make difference in changing the vortex characteristics in supersonic shear layer, leading to mixing enhancement and noise reduction in the supersonic shear layer. Large Eddy Simulation is performed to investigate the effect of plasma actuator on supersonic shear layer, in which the plasma actuator is simplified as heat source. A Mach 1.3 supersonic flow over a backward-facing step with a groove placed upstream of the step is simulated first. Then the plasma actuators are placed inside the groove, and the effect of the plasma actuator is studied. Results show that the cases with heat sources have larger growth of shear layer and area-averaged vorticity compared with the baseline case, and increasing the amplitude of the actuation is a more efficient way for mixing enhancement.