Modeling high-temperature non-equilibrium gasdynamic control by nanosecond pulsed surface dielectric barrier discharge

Abstract The nanosecond pulsed surface dielectric barrier discharge for gasdynamic control in high-temperature non-equilibrium flows is modeled using the multi-species Navier–Stokes equations coupled with self-consistent drift-diffusion equations, encompassing 16 species and 36 reactions. A ‘plasma-to-fluid’ loose coupling strategy is employed, with corresponding spatial and temporal discretization applied. The simulation focuses on a proposed annular dielectric barrier discharge actuator configuration integrated into the outer surface of a simplified semi-sphere experimental model. A nanosecond voltage pulse with a peak voltage of 14 kV and a width of 35 ns is applied to the actuator to control the high-temperature non-equilibrium flow at a Mach number of 15.3. The energy characteristics, temperature distributions and species variations are analyzed, and the pressure perturbation and gasdynamic force evolution are also illustrated. Results indicate that the dominant dissociation and compound reactions produce atomic species and consume molecular and charged species, driven by the rapid temperature rise induced by the discharge. Due to the generation and propagation of the compression wave perturbations, the gasdynamic drag is observed to peak at a 20.5% increase, and an average rise of 3.7% within 200 ns, demonstrating potential applications in gasdynamic deceleration for re-entry vehicles.