Computational Study of Frequency and Amplitude Effects on Separation Flow Control With the Synthetic Jet

In order to investigate the frequency and amplitude effects of the synthetic jet on the flow field, numerical simulation is carried out. Even though the final objective of this study is to understand mechanism of separation control for various objects, streamline and bluff bodies, the configuration of backward-facing step is chosen as the first step because of the simplicity. Three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations are solved. Implicit large eddy simulation using high-order compact difference scheme is applied. The present analysis is addressed on the frequency characteristics of the synthetic jet for understanding frequency characteristics and flow-filed. Three cases are selected, No-control, F⁺_h = 0.2 and F⁺_h = 2.0, where non-dimensional frequency F⁺_h is normalized with the height of backward-facing step and the free stream velocity. The present computation shows that at F⁺_h = 2.0, separation length is 20 percent shorter than the No-control case. Strong two-dimensional vortices generated from the synthetic jet interact with the shear layer, which results in the increase of the Reynolds stress in the shear layer region. These vortices are deformed into three-dimensional structures, which make Reynolds stress stronger in the recirculation region. At F⁺_h = 2.0, size of the separation length is almost same as the No-control case because the mixing between the synthetic jet and the shear layer is not enhanced. Weak and short periodic vortices induced from the synthetic jet do not interacts with the shear layer very much and diffuse in the recirculation region.