Potential Flow Model for Plasma Actuation as a Lift Enhancement Device

This thesis describes potential flow models as first-order design tools for the application of plasma actuation as plasma flaps on airfoils and wings. The premise for this work is born from research indicating that a constant increment of lift enhancement can be achieved through the use of plasma actuation on the surface of airfoils. Through comparisons to real actuation, a doublet was selected as the potential flow device used to mimic a plasma actuator in the presence of a freestream flow. An objective relationship was developed to scale the doublet strength based on the local velocity at the point of the desired actuation. Using this relationship and a modified Smith-Hess panel code, the initial lift enhancement results were reproduced. Using the methods developed, predictive investigations were performed using the doublet model to explore trends that have not yet been measured experimentally. Additionally, using the plasma flap results, roll moments were considered. By comparing to a general aviation aircraft, the usefulness of the flaps was examined.