Understanding how small interventions change a flow, through numerical simulation and wind-tunnel experiments.
Understanding and influencing a flow
Controlling the flow around a wing or vehicle could help reduce drag or provide a means of flight control. We investigate how devices such as plasma actuators and synthetic jets affect the surrounding flow.
Our work combines computational fluid dynamics and wind-tunnel experiments to understand the mechanisms through which these devices act.
Moving between simulation and experiment
- Analysis and measurement of separated flows at low Reynolds numbers
- Flow control using plasma actuators and synthetic jets
- Pressure measurements and particle image velocimetry (PIV)
- Feedback control, including approaches based on deep reinforcement learning
By connecting actuator behaviour, changes in the flow and information obtained from sensors, we investigate how effective control can be achieved.
