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Turbulent friction drag reduction using electroactive polymer and electromagnetically driven surfaces

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Abstract

This work reports aerodynamic testing of two spanwise-oscillating surfaces fabricated out of electroactive polymers (EAPs) in the dielectric form of actuation, and of an electromagnetic-driven linear motor. Hot-wire and PIV measurements of velocity and direct measurement of friction drag using a drag balance are presented. A maximum of 16 % surface friction reduction, as calculated by the diminution of the wall-normal streamwise velocity gradient, was obtained. Among other quantities, the spatial dependence of the drag reduction was investigated. When this spatial transient and portions which are static are accounted for, the direct drag measurements complement the hot-wire data. PIV measurements, where the laser beam was parallel to the oscillating surface at y + ≈ 15, support the hot-wire data. The two actuators are original in design, and significant contributions have been made to the development of EAPs. This experiment is the first to aerodynamically test EAP actuators at such a large scale and at a relatively moderate Re.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Mr. Anthony Oxlade for his assistance in PIV setup and associated data analysis. We would also like to thank Professor Maurizio Quadrio who kindly ran two DNS simulations specifically to be used in comparison with the results in this work. We would also like to thank EPSRC, Airbus and QinetiQ for their financial support.

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Author notes

  1. Mark Potter

    Present address: McLaren Technology Centre, Chertsey Road, Woking, Surrey, GU21 4YH, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Aeronautics, Imperial College, London, SW7 2AZ, UK

    Kevin Gouder & Jonathan F. Morrison

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  1. Kevin Gouder
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  2. Mark Potter
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  3. Jonathan F. Morrison
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Correspondence to Kevin Gouder.

Additional information

This article is part of the collection Topics in Flow Control. Guest Editors J. P. Bonnet and L. Cattafesta.

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Gouder, K., Potter, M. & Morrison, J.F. Turbulent friction drag reduction using electroactive polymer and electromagnetically driven surfaces. Exp Fluids 54, 1441 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-012-1441-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-012-1441-y

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