An effective three-dimensional layout of actuation body force for separation control

We conducted large eddy simulations of the control of separated flow over an airfoil using body forces and discuss the role of a three-dimensional vortex structure in separation control. Two types of cases are examined: (1) the body force is distributed in a spanwise uniform layout and (2) the body force is distributed in a spanwise intermittent layout, with three-dimensional vortices being expected to be generated in the latter cases. The flow fields in the latter cases have a shorter separation bubble than those in the former cases although the total momentum of the body force in the latter cases is the same as or half of the former cases. In the flow fields of the latter type, the three-dimensional vortices, which are not observed in the former cases, are generated by the body force downstream of the body force distributed. Thus, three-dimensional vortices are considered to be effective in controlling the separated flow.