Postdoctoral Position in Control of Separation at the Trailing Edge of a NACA 0015 Airfoil by Plasma Actuators, University of Poitiers, France

Control of separation at the trailing edge of a NACA 0015 airfoil by plasma actuators

A post-doctoral position of 12 months is proposed from September 2009 at Laboratoire d’Etudes Aérodynamiques, UMR 6609 CNRS, University of Poitiers, in the Electrohydrodynamic group. It deals with airflow control by plasma actuators.

The candidate will have to perform aerodynamic experiments with different plasma actuators to prove and optimise their efficiency for aerodynamic flow control. He will investigate the ability of different plasma actuators in controlling the flow separation at the trailing edge of a NACA 0015 airfoil. She(He) will focus especially on the spatio-temporal dynamic of the natural detachment occurring at the trailing edge and the forced reattachment. Experiments will be performed in a large-scale wind tunnel (Re up to 106) by time-resolved measurements (high-speed visualization, high-speed PIV, LDV). The goal is to characterize accurately the dynamic of the control process in order to optimize the electrical input parameters of the actuator. An important part of the post-doctoral works will be dedicated to the design of largescale experiments in wind tunnel. Furthermore, the researcher will investigate how the noise produced by the flow separation occurring on the suction side of the airfoil may be reduced and she (he) will contribute to help for experiments conducted at ONERA about the control of wing tip vortex still by plasma actuation.

These experimental works will be conducted within the framework of a European project (Plasmaero, FP7-AAT-2008-RTD, 12 partners), which seeks to demonstrate how plasma discharges could be used to control aircraft aerodynamic flow. The Electrohydrodynamic group of University of Poitiers is well-known all over the world for its works on plasma actuators applied to airflow control (about 30 papers on this topic in international journal since 2000). The group as develop competence in plasma analysis and benefits of the large experience from LEA in advanced metrology.

The candidate will collaborate in lab with a plasma physician colleague supporting the definition and operations of the plasma actuator. Collaborative measurements performed in the large-scale wind tunnels of University of Poitiers are planned in the project. The candidate will assist these experiments guaranteeing strong interaction with international partners and a work in a favourable environment.

The candidate has to be a specialist of aerodynamics with knowledge in large-scale wind tunnel tests. Obviously, knowledge in flow control would be appreciated as well as experience in time-resolved data processing.

The contract is renewable for 12 months.

The annual salary is of about 22 k€ (net salary)

Contact:
Nicolas Benard
Assistant Professor, ‘Electrofluidodynamic’ Group
Laboratoire d’Etudes Aérodynamiques (LEA) UMR CNRS6609
Bld Marie et Pierre Curie
Téléport 2
BP 30179
86962 Futuroscope Cedex
France
Email: Nicolas.benard[ at ]lea.univ-poitiers.fr