Flow control using continuous fluidic vortex generators. Validation of a simple CFD model of the interaction between a boundary layer and an inclined jet.

Flow control using vortex generators has been proven to be quite efficient. For mechanical VG, a simple model (referred as BAY model) was developed by Bender et al, and implemented into the ONERA RANS software elsA. For fluidic VG, the interaction process involves numerous parameters. In addition, a full simulation of this interaction requires the definition of a specific mesh. The use of chimera technique may help when the geometry is fixed. However, for design purpose, this solution is very costly when a row of VG has to be simulated, and the influence of chordwise location, hole diameter, spanwise spacing and blowing rate have to be investigated. In order to reduce the number of parameters and to select the most important ones, a first parametrical study of the interaction of a flat plate boundary layer and a single fluidic VG has been undertaken. Afterwards, a more detailed investigation of the remaining parameters allowed proposing a definition of an “equivalent” BAY model producing the same effects as the fluidic VG on the downstream flow. Validation of this model was performed for a 2D flow on a flat plate, for a 2D transonic airfoil, and for a 3D infinite swept wing transonic configuration.