During the project, the work has been focused on the development of the tools required to carry out the optimization process. To this end, five main actions have been performed:
1/ two swept-wing mock-ups were made. One of these models has been designed in such a way that it can accommodate different types of fluidic actuators.
2/ an extensive dataset has been generated using wind-tunnel experiments in which a wing prototypes have been installed. A wide range of physical parameters have been varied (wind velocity, angle of attack ...). Active flow control has been incorporated and the wing performances have been measured.
3/ a first generation of actuators has been designed, manufactured and integrated into the wing model, which is used in the wind-tunnel experiments. Following this first phase of tests, a second generation of actuators was designed with performances greatly exceeding those of the first generation. For a very low amount of mass flowrate, this new generation of actuators has made it possible to achieve net aerodynamic gains of around 15%.
4/ Using high-fidelity simulations, the physical mechanisms driving the operation of the internal flow of the actuators have been identified and modelled.
5/ optimization tools have been developed and assessed against the data generated from the wind-tunnel experiments. First developed at low Reynolds number, these optimization tools have been extended to higher Reynolds number range. These tools have evidenced several regions where the flow seems to be highly sensitive to external perturbations. These insights have been incorporated in the design of the actuator.
The PERSEUS project led to several outputs at the dissemination level. The main outputs are:
● 1 paper published in Journal of Fluid Mechanics about the sensitivity methodology.
● 1 paper under review in AIAA Journal about the high-fidelity simulation (LES) of the PJAs and the physical analysis of the switching mechanism.
● 6 oral communications in international conferences/workshops (AIAA SciTech, EFMC, 3AF, ERCOFTAC).
● 2 oral communications at the French academic and industrial network dedicated to flow separation control GDR 2502 “Control of separated flows”.