Feedback control of particle dispersion in bluff body wakes

• Published in: International journal of control Vol. 77; no. 11; pp. 1001 - 1018
• Main Authors: Aamo, Ole Morten, Krstić, Miroslav
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 20.07.2004
• ISSN: 0020-7179; 1366-5820
• DOI: 10.1080/002071704200026922

We address the problem of imposing particle dispersion, or mixing, in the wake of a bluff body by means of feedback control. The only means of actuation is a pair of blowing and suction slots located on the cylinder wall, and the only means of sensing is a collection of pressure sensors, also located on the cylinder wall. Numerical simulations show that a very simple static feedback control law suppresses vortex shedding at Reynolds number Re = 60, and more interestingly, also enhances particle dispersion when run in destabilizing mode. At Re = 45, for which natural vortex shedding does not occur, the control law run in destabilizing mode effectively initiates vortex shedding, which in turn leads to significantly enhanced particle dispersion. Simulations suggest that the actuation slots should be placed well ahead of the separation point, and that the performance of the controller is quite insensitive to the direction of the jets.