Nicholson Konrad Koukpaizan
(Advisor: Prof. Marilyn J. Smith)

will propose a doctoral thesis entitled,

Development of Computational Techniques for Modeling Aerodynamic Flow

Control using Fluidic Oscillators

On

Monday, February 4th at 1:00 p.m.
Montgomery Knight Building 325

Abstract
The need for improved performance, reduced drag, and more energy efficient rotary-wing and fixed-wing vehicles has motivated the aerospace community to design and implement various flow control techniques. Active Flow Control (AFC), specifically fluidic Active Flow control (FAFC) has been identified as one of key transformative technologies for the future generation of vertical lift vehicles. The global effectiveness of these techniques has been demonstrated in multiple scaled experiments, but the fundamental physics leading to the overall control is not fully understood. Simulations can aid to fill some of the gaps in experiments by resolving features that are difficult to measure and evaluate new designs, but they also have their challenges. The proposed dissertation focuses on the development of computational techniques for a specific type of flow control technique: fluidic oscillators.

High-fidelity simulations are performed with an in-house code to characterize a fluidic oscillator in quiescent conditions, and provide a basis for the development of a boundary condition for larger scale computations of aerodynamic flow control. In addition, a curved surface test configuration was developed based on the suction surface of a VR-12 airfoil. The design produces regions of mild and strong separation suitable for the evaluation of fluidic-based active flow control. Simulations of a spanwise array of fluidic oscillators will evaluate their ability to suppress separation and will be compared to experimental measurements obtained in an on-going coupled numerical/experimental study of fluidic actuation for aerodynamic flow control undertaken at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Committee

• Professor Marilyn J. Smith – School of Aerospace Engineering (advisor)
• Professor Ari Glezer – School of Mechanical Engineering
• Professor Stephen M. Ruffin – School of Aerospace Engineering
• Ethan A. Romander – NASA Ames
• Dr. David M. Schatzman – US Army RDECOM