Effects of traverse direction on swept-wing separation control using a traversing jet

Flow separation on swept wings during high-lift configuration, such as takeoff and landing, presents a significant aerodynamic challenge. A traverse jet technique is proposed for efficient, low-energy-consumption flow control. The lift-enhancement potential of this technique at low mass flow rates is validated through integrated numerical simulations and wind tunnel tests. The flow mechanism by which the excitation frequency influences separation control is revealed. Furthermore, the traverse direction is found to have a significant impact on the control effectiveness for swept-wing flow separation. Results indicate that the control effect is most pronounced when the traverse excitation frequency approaches the characteristic vortex shedding frequency of the separated flow, leading to optimal matching between the jet energy and the flow structures. A traverse direction aligned with the development direction of the three-dimensional separation vortices more effectively suppresses crossflow and flow separation. To achieve an equivalent lift enhancement, the traverse jet technique can reduce the mass flow consumption by approximately 77.8% compared to conventional steady jets.