Journal of Applied Fluid Mechanics, Vol. 17, No. 5, pp. 1052-1072, 2024.

Available online at www.jafmonline.net, ISSN 1735-3572, EISSN 1735-3645.

https://doi.org/10.47176/jafm.17.05.2231

Effect of Synthetic Jet on NACA0012 Airfoil Vortex Structure and

Aerodynamic Characteristics
J. Wang1, X. Shi1, Q. Zhang2,3 and J. Chang2,3†
1 School of Environment and Safety Engineering, North University of China, Taiyuan, Shanxi, 030051 China
2 College of Mechatronic Engineering, North University of China, Taiyuan, Shanxi, 030051, China
3 Institute of Intelligent Weapons, North University of China, Taiyuan, Shanxi, 030051, China

†Corresponding Author Email: changjl@nuc.edu.cn

ABSTRACT

In this manuscript, the vortex generated by the main frequency excitation of the shedding
vortex at various attack angles is investigated by employing the synthetic jet control Article History
technique. We also analyzed the impact of the vortex structure on the fled flow around Received August 16, 2023
the wing and the spectral characteristics corresponding to the vortex. The dominant Revised November 20, 2023
frequency and harmonic frequency corresponding to the wave rule of the shedding vortex Accepted December 7, 2023
at various attack angles without the absence of a synthetic jet are selected as the synthetic Available online February 24, 2024
jet excitation frequency. The results indicate that under the excitation of fixed frequency
synthetic jet, the shape of the shedding vortex in the flow field turns correspondingly.
Compared with the flow field without jet excitation, it is found that the field with the jet
Keywords:
at most attack angles is stable in 2S (Single) mode, and the flow field at a small attack Shedding vortex frequency
angle is stable in a chaotic state. The angle of attack with a chaotic state is delayed by Synthetic jet frequency
adding a jet, which makes the curves and corresponding spectral characteristics more Unsteady flow
orderly. At a defined attack angle, the combined frequency synthetic jet will cause the lift Wake shedding
Active flow control
coefficient to fluctuate regularly. At this time, the multiple small-scale vortex structures
lead to lift reduction.

INTRODUCTION mode. The reverse pressure gradient makes the air flow
easy to separate from the wall, forming a laminar
Aircraft is the best means of transportation for long- separation shear layer. As a result of the K-H instability,
distance travel, which has changed human history and way the laminar flow shear layer transits, generating a
of thinking. The technological progress of aircraft has turbulent separated shear layer. The laminar separation
driven the vigorous development of a number of high-tech bubble flow structure is generated by the separated airflow
industries (Klochkov & Kritskaya, 2017). The quickly returning to the wall and reattaching to the wall,
development of the world economy has freed itself from taking the shape of a turbulent boundary layer, which can
the constraints of distance. Flight safety is extremely significantly decrease wing performance, lift loss, increase
important for aircraft, and few passengers can survive an drag, wing shaking, and even stall.
air crash (Fala, 2022). The wings of aircraft are the main Therefore, reducing the flow separation is one method
source of aircraft lift, and the aerodynamic performance of to improve the aerodynamic characteristics of the airfoil.
aircraft wings will be reduced due to the flow separation. The position and extent of airflow separation would
Flow separation will threaten the stability and safety of directly affect the performance of airfoils. Understanding
aircraft flight (Nguyen et al., 2022). The effects of the the structure of airfoil flow vortices during flow separation
average attack angle and pitch frequency on instantaneous is considered accelerating the progress of aircraft wings.
forces and vortex structures were studied by Kurtulus The two ways to control flow separation are as follows:
(2019), and the results showed that the oscillation of the active control and passive control. Passive control reduces
airfoil can change the amplitude of aerodynamic load the degree of flow separation by changing the parameters
oscillation. of the wing. Active flow control is done by changing the
There are many differences between low Reynolds flow environment. Synthetic jets can be summarized in
number and typical Reynolds number (Re>106) in flow active flow control technology. The advantage of
structure and characteristics of aircraft. According to synthetic jets to control flow separation is that the energy
Gupta et al. (2023) research, there are three modes of can be concentrated in a wide range for precise control,
wake: continuous vortex sheet mode, alternating vortex and better control of flow separation can be achieved with
shedding mode, and alternating vortex pair shedding less energy.
J. Wang et al. / JAFM, Vol. 17, No. 5, pp. 1052-1072, 2024.

NOMENCLATURE
α angle of attack ▽p pressure gradient
generation of turbulent kinetic energy due to
f expression of excitation function of synthetic jet Gb
buoyancy
generation of turbulent kinetic energy due to the
Gk ω dissipation rate
average velocity gradient
Re Reynolds number ρ density
t time u velocity flow field vector
velocity vector of the flow field along the x-
ut turbulent viscosity coefficient ux direction component of the global coordinate
system
velocity vector of the flow field along the y- velocity vector of the flow field along the z-
uy direction component of the global coordinate uz direction component of the global coordinate
system system
influence of compressible turbulent pulsation
v kinematic viscosity of the fluid, respectively YM
expansion on the total dissipation rate
Y+ dimensionless wall distance

The frequency characteristics of shedding vortices increasing with increasing speed. Figure 1 shows the flow
generated by airflow separation at Re=10000 were studied separation under static angle of attack at different angles.
by Chang et al. (2022). This study found that with the Figure 2 shows the different cases of flow separation for
attack angle increasing, the frequency of shedding vortices different Re and angles attack.
becomes more complex. The principle of flow separation
and laminar to turbulent transition in the aerodynamic
profile separation shear-layer was researched by
Rodríguez et al. (2013). The impression of the lift and drag
coefficient was studied through numerical simulation of
active diaphragm control by Di et al. (2017). Arif & Hasan
(2021) concluded the influence of warming on the average
lift and drag coefficient at Re=100. The results showed
that at low to medium values of Re, the initial laminar
shear layer transited to turbulence, and the finally formed
vortex shedding formed a vortex street similar to Von
Karman vortices in the backwash. The flow mechanism
and the causes of laminar separation vortices were deeply
explored by AlMutairi et al. (2017). The flow oscillation
was caused by the quasi-periodic burst and recombination
of the shedding vortex. When the shedding vortex was
attached to the wing, its turbulent kinetic energy was
maximum, whereas the length of the shedding vortex was
the shortest. According to Kurtulus (2015), the situation of
the flow field and the vortices at Re=1000 of the
NACA0012 were investigated. Pradhan et al. (2022) Fig. 1 Streamlines of average velocity field with
explored the influence of flow field size and length-width NACA0012 attack angle less than 20° (Kurtulus,
ratio on convection and aerodynamic characteristics. From 2015)
the results, it is obvious that the lift coefficient is the
highest at an attack angle of 8°. If the attack angle is more
than 8°, the force acting on the wing will oscillate. The
formation and shedding of separated vortices were
observed at low Re. The flow separation and wake of the
(a) (b)
NACA0012 at low Re were researched in the experiment
by Kim et al. (2009). This effect shows that laminar
separation in the boundary layer begins to occur when
α=3°.Under the condition of Re=4.8×104 and α=6°, the
reattachment of the airflow is clearly observed, forming
(b) (c)
the long separated vortex during this process. The
impression of the synthetic jet actuator on NACA0022
boundary layer separation and reattachment was studied
by Goodfellow et al. (2010), and boundary layer
reattachment was enhanced. In the research of Han et al.
(c) (f)
(2021), the VIV of NACA0012 at high attack angles was
investigated. On account of displayed that under different Fig. 2 Boundary layer of NACA0012 at a certain
conditions, the unsteady vortex shedding was the same, angle of attack and Re (Kim et al., 2009)

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The influence of the evolution of the shear layer of the airflow. The view that synthetic jets have a
formed by flow separation on the coherent structure pronounced effect on inhibiting flow separation has been
characteristics was inquired by Yarusevych et al. (2009). verified (You & Moin, 2008; Cao et al., 2020; Wang &
It was concluded that vortices were created in the shear Wu, 2020, Kim et al., 2022).
layer formed by flow separation, and these constructions
Arif & Hasan (2021) studied the shedding vortex
had an important effect on the modulation from flowing to
passing through a square column at Re=100. The
turbulence. The influence of pitching on the aerodynamic
impression of thermal buoyancy on the aerodynamic
characteristics and flow field situation at a low Reynolds
characteristics of a square cylinder was obtained. The
number was tested and investigated by Kim and Chang
impression of synthetic jets on the behavior of separated
(2014). The results showed that the first and second tail
vortices was inquired by Lei et al. (2020). The solution
vortices and mushroom structures depended on the
indicated that flow separation was effectively suppressed.
Reynolds number. According to lift and drag coefficient,
The control of large-scale separated flow through
the hysteresis loop varied with Re. The phase angle of the
synthetic jets has been studied by Tang et al. (2018). It was
shear layer formed by flow separation was inversely
concluded that synthetic jets were an effective tool for
proportional to the increase of Re. The impression of the
suppressing flow separation and cross-border motion
attack angle on the vortex structure was studied by
within the separation zone. The method of enhancing the
Kurtulus (2019). The influence of front hole suction and
aerodynamic characteristics of airfoils by changing the
rear hole blowing on the airfoil has been explored by
frequency and momentum of synthetic jets was obtained
Zhang et al. (2020), which could suppress disturbances in
by Itsariyapinyo and Sharma (2016). The optimization of
the flow field. In the case of large-scale heating, vortex
airfoil parameters using synthetic jets by changing pulse
shedding is suppressed when the fluid flows through a
frequency, momentum coefficient, and jet inclination
square column as researched by Arif & Hasan (2019b). It
angle was studied by Couto and Bergada (2022). The
was concluded that large-scale heating played a role in
impression of the jet frequency, angle, and speed on the
suppressing vortex detachment. Arif & Hasan (2020)
maximum lift was studied by Neve et al. (2017). The
simulated the heating and rotation of the cylinder at
outcome demonstrated that the synthetic jet parameters
Re=100. The research results showed that the drag at the
could enhance maximum lift.
same temperature increases along with inclination, while
the drag at the same inclination increases along with The phase evolution of the separation boundary layer
temperature. Khan et al. (2023) investigated the vortex- controlled by a synthetic jet for delayed separation was
induced vibration of mixed convection passing through a investigated through an experiment by Yang et al. (2022).
cylinder at Re=100. They studied vortices under different The outcome displayed that the frequency and amplitude
conditions and conducted a detailed analysis of the results. of the synthetic jet significantly affected the reaction of the
The instantaneous vorticity distribution of NACA0012 is average shear layer. The increase in the frequency or
obtained when the Reynolds number is Re=1×104(t=100s). amplitude of the synthetic jet would increase the length of
Lou et al. (2019), Yen and Hsu (2007), Shan et al. (2008), the reattachment flow. The method of changing the vortex
and Nedić and Vassilicos (2015) introduced in detail the structure by synthetic jet was explored by Wang and Tang
effects of low-frequency membrane local vibration, the (2018) to promote the aerodynamic performance of the
wing with sweep, vorticity generator, and serrated wing on airfoil. As a result, the force generated by vortices plays
flow separation. It was deduced that this approach can an important role in the performance of airfoils. The
effectively improve the flow structure. Figure 3 shows the synthetic jet could actually postpone or advance the
instantaneous vorticity distribution of NACA0012 at shedding of the leading edge vortex and effectively reduce
Re=1×104 for t=100s. remove the production of the trailing edge vortex. Thus,
the aerodynamic performance and flow separation
The synthetic jet actuator could provide high speed
phenomenon was advanced. The mutual effect between
and high-momentum jet without a net change of fluid mass
the synthetic jet setting on NACA0012 and the flow field
in the cavity. The zero-mass jet generated by the actuator
was experimentally studied by Monastero et al. (2019).
disturbs the external flow. The vortex behavior and lift of
The constitution and downstream flow of annular flow
the airflow are changed by influencing the flow behavior
structures generated by synthetic jets were investigated.
This improved the aerodynamic performance of the wing.
Arif & Haasan (2019a) studied mixed convection in a
heated square column with Re=100. He investigated the
effects of using different characteristic numerical
boundary conditions when solving using non-Boussinesq
methods.
The mutual effect between the array jet and the airfoil
flow field was experimentally researched by Lindstrom et
al. (2018). Conclusion drawn the separation flow on the
controlled surface of the synthetic jet was reattached. The
synthetic jet active control to the flow separation control
of a vertical tail was experimentally investigated by
Monastero and Amitay (2016). The outcome displayed
Fig. 3 Instantaneous vorticity distribution of that the synthetic jet control substantially changed the
NACA0012 at Re=1×104 (t=100s) (Kurtulus, 2019)

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global pressure distribution around the model. The

impression of jet breadth and amplitude on the flow above
the NACA0012 was explored by Saadi and Bahi (2018).
The lift drag ratio would change as the width of the jet
changes. The direct simulation results of the jet on the
NACA0018 were presented by Zhang and Samtaney
(2015). It showed that the synthetic jet has a significant
impact on the vortex structure. The outcome of jet
excitation frequency on airfoil airflow was investigated
through an experiment by Feero et al. (2015). The
consequence indicated that the high frequency could
eliminate the massive vortex shedding in the wake.
Fig. 4 NACA0012 airfoil calculation domain and
According to Singh et al. (2021) and Tadjfar & Kamari
conditions
(2020), the vortex structure and lift could be changed by
employing a jet array or placing the jet at the tail end of
the vertical wing. According to Feero et al. (2017) and
Moshfeghi and Hur (2017), the vortex structure and lift
can be changed by changing the width, injection angle,
blowing ratio, and the position of synthetic jet.
The synthetic jet with fixed frequency or combined
frequency had a meaningful impression on the vortex and
flow field near the surface. But the mechanism is not clear.
At present, the impression of jet frequency on airfoil
vortex structure and lift has been investigated from
multiple perspectives. This research simulates the flow of
synthetic jets under different attack angles, discussing the
laws of vortex structure evolution. In-depth study of the
vortex discharge rate on the aft edge with changes in (a)
lifting force and resistance coefficient. Be aim of this
paper is to inquire about the outcome of the excitation
frequency of jets on the vortex structure and aerodynamic
parameters near the wing surface.

2. PHYSICAL MODEL AND NUMERICAL

SIMULATION METHOD
(b)
2.1 Physical Model
Fig. 5 NACA0012 airfoil calculation grid (a) global
In this paper, the computational domain model refers
grid (b) grid around the airfoil
to the computational domain structure by Chang et al.
(2022). Detailed parameters are as follows. Wing
characteristic length is set to 0.1 m. The interval from the
7.6% chord length, and the α is set to 19° and 22° when it
left of the airfoil to the leading edge, the right to the tail
is at 1%. The width of the jet port is 1% of the
edge, and the top and bottom to the wing chord are all 1.5
characteristic Length. The blowing and suction frequency
m. A non-structured mesh is used in the airfoil. There are
of the jet conforms to the fluctuation law of the sine
138490 grids. The initial height of the boundary layer is
function, as shown in Eq. 1.
obtained according to the incoming Mach number and the
characteristic length. The value of Y+ is 1. The inlet of air V=2πft (1)
is velocity inlet, the wall surface and wing surface are non-
2.2 Flow Control Equation
slip walls, and the outlet is pressure outlet. The geometric
model size is large enough relative to the wing size, so the The governing equations of the fluid include the
range from airflow entering the flow field to flow conservation of mass (continuity), the conservation of
separation and full development of wake can be included. momentum (N-S), and energy conservation.
The impression of the boundary of the calculative domain
on the flow field simulation is avoided. The computational The conservation of mass can be explained as:
domain and meshing are shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 ∂ρ ∂(ρux ) ∂(ρuy ) ∂(ρuz )
+ + + =0 (2)
∂t ∂x ∂y ∂z
After research, it was discovered that installing the
synthetic jet in front of the flow separation point has a the ρ, t, and u are density, flow time, and flow velocity
better influence than after (Goodarzi et al., 2012). With the vectors, respectively, and ux, uy, and uz are the XYZ
attack angle increasing, the separation point of the upper direction component of the velocity vector along the
airflow surface is moved forward. After analysis, the global coordinate system, and the lower corner represents
synthetic jet actuator will be arranged as follows: the α is different directions.
set to 10°, 14°, and 16° when the actuator position is at

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𝜕𝑢 1
+ (𝑢 ∙ ∇)𝑢 = 𝑓 − ∇𝑃 + 𝜈∇2 𝑢
{ 𝜕𝑡 𝜌 (3)
∇∙𝑢 =0
The above is the N-S equation corresponding to the
incompressible fluid solved in the paper:
where ƒ, ▽P, and v are respectively mass force, pressure
gradient, and kinematic viscosity of the fluid .
The energy conservation is one of the basic governing
equations of fluid flow. The flow field condition
calculated in this paper is incompressible flow, in which
the heat exchange has rarely impression on the fluid
calculation. Therefore, the effect of the energy equation is
not considered in the simulation.
2.3 Turbulence Model
Turbulence occurs due to changes in velocity. Fig. 6 Coefficient curve for different grid numbers
Momentum, energy, and concentration are caused by and the same attack angle
velocity fluctuations in a fluid medium and cause
fluctuations in quantity. Due to the small scale and high
frequency of this fluctuation, direct simulation requires
high requirements for computers. In fact, the transient
control equation may be uniform in time and space, or the
scale of the transient control equation can be artificially
changed, requiring less equation modification.
According to the Boussinesq hypothesis, the
Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes equation (RANS) is
closed using a turbulence model. The model was selected
as the standard k-omega model. The model is an empirical
model based on turbulent kinetic energy (k) and
dissipation rate (ω). This turbulence model is used to
calculate the fluid velocity in the viscous sublayer near the
wall with good convergence. However, the k-ω model
performs well in the characteristic of the reverse pressure
gradient boundary layer, the wall-bounded and low
Fig. 7 Regional independence verification
Reynolds number turbulence, and the large turbulent
simulation. The calculation expression of the turbulence
coefficient is:
we can assume that the calculation results in the
𝑑𝑘 𝜕 𝜇𝑡 𝜕𝑘
𝜌 = [(𝜇 + ) ] + 𝐺𝑘 + 𝐺𝑏 − 𝜌𝜀 − 𝑌𝑀 manuscript are appropriate.
𝑑𝑡 𝜕𝑥𝑖 𝜎𝑘 𝜕𝑥𝑖
{ 𝑑𝜀 𝜕 𝜇𝑡 𝜕𝜀 𝜀 𝜀2 2.5 Domain Independence Verification
𝜌 = [(𝜇 + ) ] + 𝐺1𝜀 (𝐺𝑘 + 𝐶3𝜀 𝐺𝑏 ) − 𝐺2𝜀 𝜌
𝑑𝑡 𝜕𝑥𝑖 𝜎𝜀 𝜕𝑥𝑖 𝑘 𝑘
Figure 7 shows the lift coefficient curves under the
(4)
same grid drawing method in the 10D, 15D, and 20D
Where Gk represents turbulence energy from the regions. From the images, it can be seen that the data
average speed gradient, Gb stands for turbulent kinetic obtained in the 15D region is consistent with that obtained
energy caused by lift force, YM is the impression of in the 20D region, but the 10D region had a obvious
compressible pulsation of turbulence on the overall difference in the data. It can be seen that the results differ
dissipation, and ut is the coefficient of viscosity of significantly when the region is small compared to that
turbulence. The solution for ut is: when the region is large, while increasing the region will
𝜌𝑘 lead to close results. So as to guarantee the precise of
𝜇𝑡 = 𝛼 ∗ (5) numerical simulation, save resources, and accurately
𝜔
obtain the simulation consequence, a model with a grid
2.4 Grid Independence Verification
area of about 15D should be selected for numerical
Figure 6 shows the curve for different grid numbers at simulation. The maximum error is less than 3%, and we
the same angle. When the number of grids is small, the can assume that the calculation results can be accepted.
resulting error is relatively large, while adding a grid
2.6 Accuracy Verification
number will lead to a close number of results. So as to
promise the exactitude of numerical simulation, save So as to verify that the flow field model can resultful
resources, and accurately obtain the flow characteristics in simulate the research content of this article, the model
the flow field calculation domain, a model with a grid construction method used in this article was utilized to
number of about 130000 should be selected for numerical construct a physical model under the same conditions as
simulation. The maximum error is not more than 5%, and Shen et al. (2017) and Di Ilio et al. (2018), and numerical

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Table 1 Excitation function of synthetic jet with fixed

excitation frequency
Expression of Duration of
Angle of
excitation function blowing and
attack
of synthetic jet suction cycle
𝛼 = 10° sin⁡(2𝜋 ∗ 18.67 ∗ 𝑡) 0.05 s
𝛼 = 14° sin⁡(2𝜋 ∗ 11 ∗ 𝑡) 0.09 s
𝛼 = 16° sin⁡(2𝜋 ∗ 10.33 ∗ 𝑡) 0.1 s
𝛼 = 19° sin⁡(2𝜋 ∗ 6.67 ∗ 𝑡) 0.15 s
𝛼 = 22° sin⁡(2𝜋 ∗ 6 ∗ 𝑡) 0.17 s

under a specific flow field environment are analyzed, and

flow patterns in the range of 0° to 24° attack angles are
briefly described. Different flow forms correspond to
different spectral characteristics of the frequency plot of
the rising resistance coefficient. The highest frequency of
Fig. 8 Comparison of lift coefficient amplitude in the range of amplitude lifting power indicates
that the vortex below this frequency contains the highest
energy. The theory of the jet is to transform the structure
simulations were used to compare the simulation results of the flow field and improve aerodynamic performance
with the conclusions of Shen et al. (2017) and Di Ilio et al. by creating a discontinuous jet by blowing and absorbing
(2018). The comparison results are shown in Fig. 8. When the surrounding fluid. And in the blowing and suction
other conditions are the same as the reference, the research process, vortexes are generated near the excitation port.
is the lifting force coefficient calculated by the standard k- When the frequency of the vortex generated is similar to
omega model, which is better suited to the results of digital the wing airfoil, the flow around the wing airfoil is
simulations in literature. Although the attack angle where "locked". At this time, the excitation effect is obviously
the maximum lift coefficient occurs deviates from the better than that under other fixed frequencies (Wu et al.,
attack angle in the reference, the maximum error is still 1998).
less than 5%. The lift curve still accurately response to the
change of the airfoil stall concerning the attack angle. Based on the content in Chang et al. (2022), the study
of this research, the impression of the frequency of jet on
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION the drag to airfoil lift by five attack angles. The excitation
function of the synthetic jet is as in Table 1.
The characteristic parameters of a synthetic jet NACA0012 vorticity diagram and flow diagram are
include excitation waveform, excitation frequency, shown in Fig.9~13, which is under the excitation of a
excitation amplitude, excitation phase, etc. The change of synthetic jet with Re =104. Q criterion is adopted as the
the above parameters directly affects the working evaluation criterion of the vorticity diagram, among them,
performance of the actuator. As a result, the jet affects the q >0 means that the vortex plays an important role, and q
impression of controlling the vortex structure on the <0 means that the no vortex plays an important role.
absorption surface. Vortex structure has an important
As shown in Fig. 9, The fluid is periodically blown
influence on pneumatic profile parameters. The
and sucked in by the actuator port α=10°and f=18.67 Hz.
impression of the jet whose excitation frequency is
Compared with the vortex is structured in the field of
investigated in this paper below.
α=10° in Chang et al. (2022), the amount of vortex
In flow control of synthetic jet, there is no mechanical structures on the upper surface, as the active excitation of
motion structure in the exciter of synthetic jet, and the the jet increases. When t=1/2T, it is a blowing process. At
environmental fluid is periodically blown and pumped, this time, the main vortex structures on the upper surface
driven by the excitation voltage, which conforms to zero- include the resident vortex (marked as D1), the first
mass jet characteristics. The working mechanism of a shedding vortex (D3), and the second shedding vortex
synthetic jet actuator is a discontinuous jet generated by (D5). The counterclockwise secondary vortex D2 is
blowing and sucking the surrounding fluid. Thus, the fluid generated between the clockwise vortex D1 and D3. In the
of the exciter cavity and the external environment same way, the counterclockwise secondary vortex D4 is
exchange passively periodically. For a given size actuator, formed between D3 and D5.
the control impression of the jet is obviously related to the
Figure 10 illustrates that when α=14° and f=11 Hz, the
excitation frequency.
shedding wake vortex presents a periodic vortex street
3.1 Analysis of Wing Vortex Shedding Under Fixed form. The time from 1/5T (Fig. 10 (a, b)) to 2/5T (Fig. 10
Excited Frequency Synthetic Jet (c, d)) is the synthetic jet-blowing process. The time from
3/5T (Fig. 10 (e, f)) to 5/5T (Fig. 10 (i, j)) is the suction
In Chang et al. (2022), the structure and frequency
process of a synthetic jet.
characteristics of NACA0012 airfoil shedding vortex

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(a) t=1/2T (b) t=1/2T

(c) t=2/2T (d) t=2/2T

Fig. 9 Periodic vorticity diagram and streamline diagram of shedding vortex when the excitation frequency is
f=18.67 Hz, α=10 ° attack angle (In the vorticity diagram, the red indicates that vorticity is dominant, and the
blue indicates that viscous stress is dominant)

When t=1/5T (Fig. 10 (a, b)), the vortex E1 is According to Fig. 10, from t=1/5T to t=2/5T, the
generated by the fluid blowing from the actuator mouth at vortex E1 gradually increases in size. The size of vortex
7.6% of the chord length. The separation vortex system of E1 is proportional to the amount of accumulated energy.
the upper surface begins to develop from the separation At this time, the E5 vortex falls to the upper surface and
vortex formed at the end of the previous cycle. The gradually disappears. Because of the action of incoming
structure of the wing-type separation vortex system is as flow, the resident vortex E2 and secondary vortex E3
follows. Standing vortex E2, secondary vortex E3, move toward the back edge of the airfoil. The entrainment
shedding vortex E4, and airfoil pressure surface vortex E5 accumulates energy and is close to falling off.
entrainment vortex E5.
The jet is in the suction process at the time 3/5T (Fig.
When the time is 2/5T (Fig. 10 (c, d)), the actuator 10 (e, f)). There is no vortex generated near the excitation
continuously blows fluid and injects energy into the vortex port. The flow before the separation point of the airfoil is
E1, and the vortex E1 moves backward under the approaching the airfoil surface because of the suction
impression of the incoming flow. The upper surface will process. At this time, a new shedding vortex (marked as
separate at a certain chord length under the dual action of E6 and E7) is formed by the resident vortex E2 and merges
viscosity and reverse pressure gradient. At this time, the with the secondary vortex E3. Simultaneously, the
kinetic energy of the incoming flow can not offset the entrainment vortex E5 is about to fall off.
blocking effect of the above reasons. Obstruction causes
At the time 4/5T (Fig. 10 (g, h)), a new shedding
the incoming flow to leave away from the airfoil surface,
vortex E10 is generated by merging vortex E6 and vortex
causing flow separation. When α=14°, the actuator is
E7. The flow separation in the front edge of the airfoil
located in front of the separation point of the upper
makes the persistent vortex E8 generated. The secondary
surface. Compared with that without a synthetic jet, the
vortex E9 emerged under the double action of vortex E8
kinetic energy of incoming flow at the separation point is
and E10. The entrainment vortex E5 falls off
increased by vortex E1, which improves the ability of
simultaneously.
incoming flow to resist flow separation. The synthetic jet
actuator moves the boundary layer flow separation point The synthetic jet actuator will change from the suction
towards the trailing edge, delaying the separation position. process to the blowing process when t=5/5T (Fig. 10(i, g)).

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(a) t=1/5T (b) t=1/5T

(c) t=2/5T (d) t=2/5T

(e) t=3/5T (f) t=3/5T

(g) t=4/5T (h) t=4/5T

(i) t=3/5T (j) t=3/5T

Fig. 10 Periodic vorticity diagram and streamline diagram of shedding Vortex at α=14° and f=11 Hz

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(a) t=1/5T (b) t=1/5T

(c) t=2/5T (d) t=2/5T

(e) t=3/5T (f) t=3/5T

(g) t=4/5T (h) t=4/5T

(i) t=5/5T (j) t=5/5T

Fig. 11 Periodic vorticity diagram and streamline diagram of shedding Vortex at the α=16° and f=10.33 Hz

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(a) t=1/6T (b) t=1/6T

(c) t=2/6T (d) t=2/6T

(e) t=3/6T (f) t=3/6T

(g) t=4/6T (h) t=4/6T

(i) t=5/6T (j) t=5/6T

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(k) t=6/6T (l) t=6/6T

Fig. 12 Periodic vorticity diagram and streamline diagram of abscission vortex when f=6.667 Hz and α=19°

The wing suction plane vortex is the same as the Because as the angle gets larger, the change in the
previous one. The entrainment of vortex E5 further structure of synthetic jet is not much, and the generated jet
consumes energy in the wake and is about to dissipate. The vortex will quickly merge into the airfoil leading edge
above process is a complete shedding vortex cycle under resident vortex (marked as vortex H1 in Fig. 13). The
the α=14° and the f = 11 Hz. vortex structure includes the resident vortex H1, the
secondary vortex H2, the shedding vortex H3, and the
As shown in Fig. 11, the structure at α=16° and
entrainment vortex H4.
f=10.33 Hz is similar to that at α=14° and f=11 Hz. As
depicted in Fig. 11(a, b), when t=1/5T, the vortex system From t=1/6T to t=3/6T, the actuator is the blowing
structure above the wing is excitation vortex F1, resident process. At this time, the leading edge resident vortex H1
vortex F2, secondary vortex F3, Shed vortex F4 and and secondary vortex H2 stably exist at the front chord
entrainment vortex F5. During the suction process, the length of the airfoil. From t=4/6T to t=6/6T, the actuator
vortical structure current structure is also similar to that at is in the suction process. At this time, the standing vortex
α=14°. At t=3/5T, the standing vortex F8 at the leading H1 in front of the edge gradually disappears, and the
edge gradually transits to the shedding vortex F9 at vortex structure is composed of the secondary vortex H7
t=4/5T. Under the double action of vortex F9 and trailing and the shedding vortex H8. The above process is a
edge entrainment vortex F7, the shedding vortex F10 is complete shedding period of the vortex at α=22° and f=6
generated. When t=5/5T, vortex F9 and F10 merge to Hz.
generate the shedding vortex F12.
3.2 Analysis of Frequency Characteristics of
Figure 12 is the process of shedding vortex when Shedding Vortex under the Action of Synthetic Jet
α=19° and f=10.33 Hz. In the Fig. 12(a, b), the vortex with Fixed Excitation Frequency
structure of the upper surface in the process of the jet-
The control of airfoil vortex lift can be achieved by
blowing process is jet excitation vortex G1, secondary
capturing the vortex structure through low-power periodic
vortex G2, detached vortex G3, entrained vortex G4. And
excitation. The control effect of periodic excitation is
there is no resident vortex. Under the action of G1, part of
better than that of constant excitation. The physical
the fluid in front of the edge of the airfoil is close to the
mechanism of the low-power synthetic jet controlling the
airfoil. At this time, the jet actuator remains in front of the
airfoil lift is: (1) the periodic vortex structure appears
flow separation point and is located at 1% of the
above the wing changes, (2) the excited vortex is used to
characteristic length. As the jet continues to blow out,
actively control the flow field, (3) a response is produced
when t=2/6T (Fig. 12 (c, d)), vortex G1 drives the fluid
by the vortex structure above the wing changes, (4) the lift
approaching the wing, and vortex G2 is impacted into the
coefficient is changed by the vortex structure.
surrounding flow field and detached vortex G3.
At t=3/6T, the synthetic jet actuator changes from the
Table 2 Root mean square coefficients of airfoil lift
blowing process to the suction process, and the leading
and drag for a single frequency synthetic jet exciter
edge resident vortex G5 starts to generate. At t=5/6T, the
entrainment vortex G4 has dissipated in the wake. The Lift Resistance
new entrainment vortex G6 is accumulating energy. Under Angle Frequency
(RMS) (RMS)
the action of vortex G5 and G6, the secondary vortex G7 10° sin(2π*18.67*t) 0.5285 0.1375
appears. Vortex G5 and G7 merge to generate a new sin(2π*11*t)
14° 0.7322 0.2477
shedding vortex G9 when t=6/6T. A new resident vortex,
G8, emerges at the leading edge. 16° sin(2π*10.33*t) 0.8411 0.3057
19° sin(2π*6.67*t) 1.0050 0.4252
According to Fig 13, the shedding wake still presents
22° sin(2π*6*t) 1.0296 0.5094
a periodic vortex street form when α=22° and f=6 Hz.

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(a) t=1/6T (b) t=1/6T

(c) t=2/6T (d) t=2/6T

(e) t=3/6T (f) t=3/6T

(g) t=4/6T (h) t=4/6T

(i) t=5/6T (j) t=5/6T

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(k) t=5/6T (l) t=6/6T

Fig. 13 Vorticity diagram and streamline diagram of shedding vortex period when f=6 Hz and α=22°

As picture in Fig. 14 (a), the curves of airfoil show off. The subsequent rise of these two curves means that the
sinusoidal vibration. In Fig.14 (b), the spectrum of lift vortex starts to weaken. Similarly, when the curve reaches
coefficient with α=10° is significantly different between its peak, it indicates that the vortices on the surface of the
f=18.67Hz and that with no excitation. The addition of a wing begin to detach. At α=14°, the strength of the
jet causes the lift coefficient to change.From the lift vortices on the lower surface is much greater than that on
coefficient spectrum, it is obvious that it has one main the upper. Therefore, the two curves do not fluctuate
frequency and two harmonic frequencies. The frequency significantly and still conform to the quasi-sinusoidal
values are respectively 9.67 Hz, 19.67 Hz and 29.34 Hz. oscillation. Under the excitation, coefficient curves and
vortice conditions of α=14° are similar to α=10°. At this
At the condition of α=10°, the vortex structure of the
time, the flow field still conforms to the 2S (single). At
flow field is broken by the synthetic jet. The flow
α=14°, the lift coefficient of the airfoil with a jet actuator
characteristics of the suction surface of an airfoil with
is 28.5% higher than that without a jet actuator.
multiple vortices coexist. As shown in Fig. 9, the lift
increase is due to the incoming flow being driven by After adding a synthetic jet actuator, according to Fig.
vortices through the surface. However, as the vortex itself 14 (g, h), the curve transitions at α=16° from an unordered
is a highly viscous energy body, it will increase friction state to a sinusoidal periodic curve, as shown in the
with the airfoil in the process of moving to the back edge research of Chang et al (2022). This also indicates the
of the airfoil under the action of the incoming flow, vortex structure changes from chaotic to a 2S-like (Single)
resulting in an increased drag coefficient. After changing mode. In Fig. 14 (h), two values appear, which are the
the frequency, the vortex shedding in the flow field also dominant frequency of f=9.717 Hz with an amplitude of
shifts from 2S to quasi-periodic mode. Moreover, the 0.12 and the harmonic frequency of f=19.43 Hz with an
intensity of the main frequency of the separated vortex on amplitude of 0.03.
the upper surface is increased from 0.0075 to 0.12,
After applying the synthetic jet, although the flow
compared with that without the synthetic jet. At α=10°, the
state of α=16° changes from a chaotic state to quasi 2S
lift coefficient with a jet is 43% higher than that without a
(Single) mode, the amplitude of the dominant frequency is
jet actuator.
lower than that of α=14° and f=11.01 Hz. The strength data
In Fig.14 (e), it is obvious that the main frequency in show that the chaotic state can transform into a quasi-
the frequency domain diagram is 11.02 Hz at α=14°. In regular state by adding a synthetic jet. However, some
addition, there are two harmonic frequencies: f=22.002 Hz energy of the jet vortex is dissipated in the course of
and f=33.03 Hz, respectively. The amplitude of the main breaking the large vortex in the airfoil suction surface
frequency increases to approximately 0.15. By comparing vortex system. Therefore, it is obvious that in Fig. 14 (h),
Fig. 14 (e) with the result of Chang et al. (2022), only the the amplitude is only 0.12 when the main frequency is
second harmonic frequency f=33.03 Hz has been added, 9.717 Hz, which is equal to the amplitude of α=10°.In
and the changes in other frequencies are not significant. general, the lift coefficient of an airfoil with a jet actuator
at α=16° is 32% higher than that without a jet actuator.
As shown in Fig. 14 (d), the drag coefficient has small
wave crest fluctuations a comparison between the lift When α=19°, the addition of an actuator with f=33.03
coefficient. This indicates that the change of the vortex Hz makes the flow state change from 2S mode to quasi-2S
structure around the airfoil flow field has a more obvious mode. According to Fig. 14 (k), there are multiple
impression on the drag coefficient than on the lift subharmonic frequencies with equivalent amplitudes,
coefficient. The emergence of new harmonic frequencies whose amplitude is approximately 0.04. It is obvious that
indicates a transformation in the vortex structure of the the synthetic jet generates multiple small vortices on the
flow field. When the coefficient curves reach the trough, surface. These vortices have different frequencies but
it signifies that the vortex capacity on the lower surface of similar intensities.
the wing accumulates to its maximum and is about to fall

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0.65 0.20 0.16

CL
CD
0.60

0.55 0.18 0.12 ¦=9.67

0.50

Amplitude
CL

CD
0.45 0.16 0.08

0.40

¦=19.67
0.35 0.14 0.04

0.30 ¦=29.34

0.25 0.12 0.00

4.00 4.05 4.10 4.15 4.20 4.25 4.30 0 10 20 30 40 50
T ¦(Hz)

(a) α=10° and f=18.67 Hz (b) Lift with α=10° and f=18.67 Hz
1.0 0.50
CL
CD
0.9
0.45

0.8
0.40

0.7

CL

CD
0.35
0.6

0.30
0.5

0.25
0.4

0.3 0.20
4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5
T

(c) Drag with α=10° and f=18.67 Hz (d) α=14° and f=11.00 Hz
0.20

0.16 ¦=11.01
Amplitude

0.12

0.08

0.04 ¦=22.02

¦=33.03
0.00
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

¦(Hz)

(e) Lift with α=14° and f=11.00 Hz (f) Drag with α=14° and f=11.00 Hz
1.1 0.50 0.16
CL
CD
1.0
0.45 ¦=9.717
0.9 0.12

0.8
Amplitude

0.40
CL

CD

0.7 0.08

0.35
0.6

0.5 0.04
0.30 ¦=19.43
0.4

0.3 0.25 0.00

5.0 5.5 6.0 6.5 7.0 0 10 20 30 40 50
T ¦(Hz)

(g) α=16° and f=10.33 Hz (h) Lift with α=16° and f=10.33 Hz

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1.4 0.8
CL
CD
1.2
0.7

1.0

0.6
0.8

CL

CD
0.6 0.5

0.4
0.4

0.2

0.3
4.0 4.2 4.4 4.6 4.8
T

(i) Drag with α=16° and f=10.33 Hz (j) α=19° and f=6.667 Hz
0.16
¦=6.669
0.14

0.12

0.10
Amplitude

0.08

0.06

0.04

0.02

0.00
0 10 20 30 40 50

¦(Hz)

(k) Lift with α=19° and f=6.667 Hz (l) Drag with α=19° and f=6.667 Hz
1.4 0.8 0.30
CL
CD
1.2 ¦=6.002
0.24
0.7

1.0
Amplitude

0.18
CL

CD

0.8 0.6

0.12
0.6

0.5 ¦=12
0.06
0.4
¦=18.01

0.2 0.4 0.00

5.0 5.2 5.4 5.6 5.8 6.0 0 10 20 30 40 50
T ¦(Hz)

(m) α=22° and f=6.000 Hz (n) Lift with α=22° and f=6.000 Hz

(o) Drag with α=22° and f=6.000 Hz

Fig. 14 Time domain diagram and frequency domain diagram of lift and drag coefficients of airfoil

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Table 3 Excitation function of the synthetic jet at different angles of attack

Angle of
Expression of excitation function of synthetic jet
attack
6.5 1
𝛼 = 14° ( ) ∗ sin⁡(2𝜋 ∗ 11 ∗ 𝑡) + ( ) ∗ sin⁡(2𝜋 ∗ 22 ∗ 𝑡)
7.5 7.5
0.4 0.35 0.45
𝛼 = 16° ( ) ∗ sin(2𝜋 ∗ 0.667 ∗ 𝑡) + ( ) ∗ sin(2𝜋 ∗ 9.607 ∗ 𝑡) + ( ) ∗ sin⁡(2𝜋 ∗ 10.33 ∗ 𝑡)
1.2 1.2 1.2
12 4.5 2
𝛼 = 19° ( ) ∗ sin(2𝜋 ∗ 6.67 ∗ 𝑡) + ( ) ∗ sin(2𝜋 ∗ 13 ∗ 𝑡) + ( ) ∗ sin⁡(2𝜋 ∗ 19.67 ∗ 𝑡)
18.5 18.5 18.5
7 14 2 2
( ) ∗ sin(2𝜋 ∗ 3 ∗ 𝑡) + ( ) ∗ sin(2𝜋 ∗ 6 ∗ 𝑡) + ( ) ∗ sin(2𝜋 ∗ 11.67 ∗ 𝑡) + ( ) ∗ sin⁡(2𝜋 ∗
𝛼 = 22° 25 25 25 25
14.67 ∗ 𝑡)

Table 4 Root mean square coefficients of airfoil lift and drag for a combined frequency synthetic jet exciter
Lift Resistance
Angle Frequency
(RMS) (RMS)
14° (6.5/7.5)*sin(2π*11*t)+(1/7.5)*sin(2π*22*t) 0.7519 0.3162
16° (0.4/1.2)*sin(2π*0.667*t)+(0.35/1.2)*sin(2π*9.607*t)+(0.45/1.2)*sin(2π*10.33*t) 0.8264 0.3100
19° (12/18.5)*sin(2π*6.67*t)+(4.5/18.5)*sin(2π*13*t)+(2/18.5)*sin(2π*19.67*t) 1.0614 0.4242
(7/25)*sin(2π*3*t)+(14/25)*sin(2π*6*t)+(2/25)*sin(2π*11.67*t)+(2/25)*sin(2π*14
22° 1.0318 0.5004
.67*t)

According to Fig. 14 (j), the coefficient curve is which is about to fall off. The curve gradually rises during
aperiodic, indicating that multiple vortices are generated the vortex shedding at the lower edge until the curve gets
on the upper surface. The disturbance of the vortex near to the wave peak. The vortex dissipates when the curve
the airfoil continuously affects the trend of lift and drag. gets to its peak. The distinct hold appearing at the wave
Therefore, the lift-drag ratio is not maintained at a fixed peak is caused by vortex shedding at the upper edge. When
value, which means its state is in constant fluctuation. By the upper edge vortex dissipates in the filed flow, the curve
comparing the results of Chang et al. (2022), it can be begins to descend until the lower edge vortex of the next
found that there is no stable lift-drag ratio in the airfoil in vortex falls off. The peak in the curve means that the
a chaotic state with or without the impression of a jet vortex at the lower edge of the wing is shedding and
actuator. The attack angle of the chaotic state is increased dissipating, while the trough means that the vortex at the
by using a synthetic jet, but it is still possible to appear in lower edge is about to fall off.
a chaotic state under a high attack angle. Differently, it can
3.3 Analysis of Frequency Characteristics of Shedding
be observed in the condition with synthetic jet exciters that
Vortex under the Action of Synthetic Jet with
the frequency of shedding vortex adjacent to the excitation
Combined Excitation Frequency
frequency. This means the excitation makes the frequency
of disordered shedding vortex locked around a certain Figure 15 (a) and (b) show that under the condition of
value, reducing the disorder of the chaotic state. α=14°, when synthetic jet excitation with combined
frequency is adopted, the lift and drag coefficients curve
Figure 14 (n) demonstrates that when α=22° and
still conform to sinusoidal oscillation with time.
f=6.002 Hz, the coefficient curve varies in a sinusoidal
According to Fig. 15 (b), the dominant frequency is 10.5
period. After applying the jet, the structure is in 2S mode.
Hz and the harmonic frequency is 20.5 Hz in the curve.
In the spectrum diagram corresponding to the lift
The amplitude of the main frequency is about 0.195,
coefficient, the dominant frequency is 6.002 Hz, whose
which is four times that of the harmonic frequency. The
amplitude is close to 0.24, and the two harmonic
vortex mode of the fluid field is a 2s mode.
frequencies f are 12 Hz and 18.01 Hz, respectively. The
amplitudes of the two are 1/6 and 1/24. Compared with Fig. 15 (e) of α=14°, in the case of the
combined excitation frequency, the amplitude of the
In Fig. 14(n), at different times during the vortex-
dominant frequency of the lift coefficient spectrum is
shedding cycle, although the flow field structure within
bigger than that case of the fixed frequency. The vortex
the region is similar, its amplitude in the frequency domain
with high energy is helpful to improve the lift of the airfoil
diagram is different. In the curve graph of α=22°, it can be
because the amplitude is proportional increase of the
seen that a complete vortex shedding period has four
energy of the vortex. At this time, under the excitation of
peaks, each with different amplitudes. This means that
the combined frequency, the amount of harmonic
there will be four shedding vortices with different
frequencies in the lift coefficient spectrum is decreased
strengths in one cycle. The different amplitudes on the
from three to two. The reduction of the number of small-
coefficient curve are caused by different intensities of
scale vortices indicates that the energy of the vortex is
shedding vortices. Compared to the lift coefficient curve,
concentrated on the large-scale vortex structure. A vortex
the drag coefficient curve can clearly display the strength
is a collection of energy, and the reduction of the small-
of the shedding vortex. The trough of the curve is due to
scale vortex structure makes the fluid flowing over the
the maximum capacity of the vortex at the lower edge,
wing surface provide greater lift for the wing.

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1.1 0.25
CL
1.0 CD 0.6
¦=10.25
0.9 0.20

0.8 0.5

Amplitude
0.7 0.15
CL

CD
0.6 0.4

0.5 0.10

0.4 0.3

0.3 0.05 ¦=20.5

0.2 0.2

0.1 0.00
4.0 4.2 4.4 4.6 4.8 0 10 20 30 40 50
T ¦(Hz)

(a) α= 14° (b) Lift with α= 14°

1.1 0.6
CL
1.0 CD

0.9
0.5
0.8

0.7

CL

CD
0.6 0.4

0.5

0.4
0.3
0.3

0.2

0.1 0.2
3.50 3.75 4.00 4.25 4.50 4.75 5.00
T

(c) Drag with α= 14° (d) α= 16°

0.025
¦=9.67

0.020
Amplitude

0.015

0.010

0.005

0.000
0 10 20 30 40 50

¦(Hz)

(e) Lift with α= 16° (f) Drag with α= 16°

1.6 1.1 0.24
CL
CD 1.0
1.4
0.20
0.9 ¦=6.669
1.2

0.16
0.8
1.0
Amplitude
CL

0.7
CD

0.8 0.12

0.6
0.6
0.08
0.5
0.4
0.4 0.04
0.2
0.3
0.0 0.00
5.0 5.5 6.0 6.5 7.0 7.5 8.0 0 10 20 30 40 50
T ¦(Hz)

(g) α= 19° (h) Lift with α= 19°

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1.3 0.8
CL
CD
1.2

1.1 0.7

1.0

CL

CD
0.9 0.6

0.8

0.7 0.5

0.6

0.5 0.4
5.0 5.2 5.4 5.6 5.8 6.0
T

(i) Drag with α= 19° (j) α= 22 °

0.14

0.12
¦=6.669
0.10
Amplitude

0.08

0.06

¦=13.67
0.04
¦=20.34
0.02 ¦=27.01

0.00
0 10 20 30 40 50

¦(Hz)

(k) Lift with α= 22 ° (l) Drag with α= 22 °

Fig. 15 Time domain diagram and frequency domain diagram ddr of lift and drag coefficients with multiple
frequency excitation

In Fig. 15 (a), the drag coefficient is more sensitive wave rule. The corresponding spectrum curve is more
than the lift coefficient to reflect the effect of combined regular than that in α=16°. The amplitude of the main
frequency excitation. A small wave crest appears in the frequency is about 0.17, which is lower than that of
descending section of the resistance coefficient curve, f=9.670 Hz in Fig. 15 (e) of α=16°. That is to say, at a high
which is caused by the vortex with f=20.5 Hz. Compared attack angle , the contribution of combined excitation
with Fig. 14 (e) of α=14°, the effect of synthetic jet with frequency to the energy of a large-scale vortex is smaller
combined excitation frequency is better than fixed than that of fixed frequency. As shown in Fig. 15 (h), the
frequency. spectrum curve corresponding to the lift coefficient
adjusts to the quasi 2S flow state law.
According to Fig. 15 (e) of α=16°, the curves of the
lift and drag coefficients of the airfoil show a quasi- According to Fig. 15 (j), the curve show regular quasi-
sinusoidal fluctuation law, when combined frequency sinusoidal wave rule if α=22°. The vortex model is in a 2S
synthetic jet excitation is applied. Multiple frequencies (Single) state. There is one dominant frequency and three
with amplitudes of 0.002~0.006 appear in the lift harmonic frequencies in the spectrum diagram
coefficient spectrum. This shows that there are many corresponding to the lift coefficient. The values of f are
small-scale vortex structures with similar strength but 6.669 Hz, 13.67 Hz, 20.34 Hz and 27.01 Hz. The
different wave frequencies near the airfoil. The main amplitude of the dominant frequency is close to 0.1, and it
frequency corresponding to the lift coefficient is 9.670 Hz, is lower than that at α=19°. Contrary to the effect of fixed
and the amplitude is 0.022. At this time, the quasi- excitation frequency, the amplitude of the corresponding
sinusoidal state of the lift and drag coefficient corresponds dominant frequency is lower under the control of
to multiple irregular frequency fluctuations of the combined excitation synthetic jet when α is 16°, 19°and
spectrum. At α=16°, the flow state of the airfoil changes 22°. The contribution of a synthetic jet with fixed
from the chaotic state without the excitation to the quasi- frequency excitation to lift is similar to that with combined
2S state with excitation. Compared with Fig. 14 (h), the frequency excitation. That is, the magnitude of the lift and
effect of fixed dominant frequency is better than that of drag is independent of the combination of excitation
the combined excitation frequency. frequencies. By contrasting Fig. 14 and Fig. 15, it can be
observed that for the synthetic jet with combined
The result of α=19° is according to Fig. 15 (g). The
frequency, the lift and drag coefficient fluctuate more
lift and drag coefficients still exhibit a quasi-sinusoidal

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regularly, and the corresponding frequency spectrum Jianlong. Chang: Writing-review, Resources, Project
curve is also more regular. administration, Conceptualization
The results show that using synthetic jets of different
frequencies has a distinct impact on the frequency domain REFERENCES
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