A Parametric Study of EHD Plasma Actuators for Munition Control

The development of subsonic plasma actuators has the potential to revolutionize the flight performance of munitions. The addition of surface mounted flow controllers based on the electrical manipulation of surface plasma to aerodynamic control surfaces has the promise of offering a dynamic in-flight augmentation of the flight characteristics of the munitions. Plasma actuators, physically comprised of thin dielectric films with printed strip electrodes, can be added to the surface of any aerodynamic body. These plasma actuators have very small physical presence and are comprised of no moving parts. Due to these characteristics they are robust enough to withstand both being walked on and impacted. Using little electrical power the addition of plasma actuators to the surfaces of aerodynamic test shapes has resulted in delaying flow separation, altering the surface drag, inducing vorticity and generating controllable thrust. Atmospheric Glow Technologies (AGT) proposes to parametrically vary the design criteria of plasma actuators based on their licensed OAUGDP technology. The aerodynamic performance of the plasma actuators will be experimentally determined, optimized, analyzed and fitted into both mathematical and computational models. Results of this study will be used to design improved flight control of munitions and augment the internal aerodynamics of machinery.