Active control of transition to turbulence in laminar separation bubbles

The impact of two-dimensional (2-D) periodic forcing on transition dynamics in laminar separation bubbles (LSBs) generated on a flat plate is investigated experimentally. Laminar separation is caused by the favourable-to-adverse pressure gradient under an inverted modified NACA 64₃-618 and periodic disturbances are generated by an alternating current dielectric barrier discharge plasma actuator located near the onset of the adverse pressure gradient. Surface pressure and time-resolved particle image velocimetry measurements along the centreline and several wall-parallel planes show significant reductions in bubble size with active flow control. Periodic excitation leads to amplification of the Kelvin–Helmholtz (K–H) instability resulting in strong 2-D coherent roller structures. Spanwise modulation of these structures is observed and varies with the forcing amplitude. Intermediate forcing amplitudes result in periodic spanwise deformation of the mean flow at large wavelength ( λ z/Lb,5kVpp ≈ 0.76 ). For high-amplitude forcing, the spanwise modulation of the mean flow agrees with the much smaller wavelength of the difference interaction of two oblique subharmonic modes ( λ z/Lb,5kVpp ≈ 0.24 ). Modal decomposition shows nonlinear interaction of the forced 2-D mode leading to growth of subharmonic and harmonic content, and the observation of several half-harmonics ( [n+1/2]fAFC ) at intermediate forcing amplitudes. Strongest amplitudes of the 2-D mode and delay of transition downstream of the time-averaged reattachment are observed for the intermediate forcing amplitudes, previously only observed in numerical simulations. Consistent with numerical results, further increase of the forcing amplitude leads to rapid breakdown to turbulence in the LSB. This suggests that the most effective exploitation of the K–H instability for transition delay is connected to an optimal (moderate) forcing amplitude.