An experimental and numerical study of synthetic jet flow

The flow generated by a synthetic jet actuator with a circular orifice is i nvestigated experimentally and computationally. The experimental data and c omputational predictions are in fair to good agreement with each other and with the theory for a steady turbulent jet. It is found, however, that the synthetic jet establishes itself much more rapidly than the steady jet, pri marily because of turbulent dissipation. The oscillatory nature of syntheti c jet flow also gives rise to a much greater entrainment of ambient fluid c ompared with the case of a steady jet. Finally, self-similarity seems to be established when the oscillations introduced by the actuator are reduced t o negligible levels.