Thrust-vectoring characteristic of a novel synthetic jet actuator

The synthetic jet actuators (SJA) have large potential applications such as jet vectoring, boundary layer control, the lift and flight control, combustion control, underwater vehicles maneuvering, and micro-pump etc. A novel synthetic jet actuator is composed of a slide block, two emitting slots, and two sealed cavities bounded on one end by a single diaphragm. The characteristics of the novel synthetic jet actuator are investigated. The novel synthetic jet actuator not only resolves the problems of pressure loading and energy inefficiency of the traditional synthetic jet actuators, but also has thrust-vectoring characteristic that the traditional synthetic jet actuators haven't. A primary jet vectoring using the novel synthetic jet actuator is numerically simulated, and the results show a single novel synthetic jet actuator can play both push and pull functions of vectoring the primary jet. These indicate that the novel synthetic jet actuator may potentially replace the traditional synthetic jet actuators in various applications, and also extend the applications of the synthetic jet actuators to more flow control systems that cannot be implemented by the traditional synthetic jet actuators.