Experimental investigation of the dynamic characteristics of the flow generated by a sliding dielectric barrier discharge in the flat plate boundary layer flow

The sliding dielectric barrier discharge (SL-DBD) has attracted attention due to its ability to suppress flow separation. This paper investigated the effect of SL-DBD on the flow field in the flat plate boundary layer by time-resolved particle image velocimetry. We obtained the finite-time Lyapunov exponent field and the Lagrangian coherent structures of the flow field through the velocity field. The results show the effect of SL-DBD has spatial differences, and SL-DBD will produce a “strong–weak–strong” spatial effect on the flow field. The directionality of the flow structure induced by SL-DBD is the main reason for the difference. SL-DBD will induce a large number of vortex structures in the local downstream area of the electrode. The vortex structure enhances the mixing and squeezing effects between the upper and lower flow fields. The upper flow field moves the lower flow field downward by about 0.1 mm through the squeezing effect. In addition, at the downstream region adjacent to the electrode, the oblique momentum injection of the SL-DBD is the dominant effect. At one electrode distance from the electrode, the SL-DBD induces a large number of vortex structures. However, when the distance from the electrode is twice the electrode spacing, the number of vortex structures decreases, and the structure becomes larger. The results show spatial differences in the perturbation of the flow field by SL-DBD, which cannot be ignored when SL-DBD is used to suppress flow separation.