Open-loop and optimal control of cylinder wake via electromagnetic fields

Abstract

The experimental and numerical investigations on electromagnetic control of cylinder wake have been performed in this paper. Experiments were conducted in a rotating annular tank filled with a low-conducting electrolyte. A cylinder with an electromagnetic actuator mounted on the surface was placed into the electrolyte. Force measurements have been carried out by strain gages attached to a fixed beam to which the hydrofoil is suspended and flow fields are visualized by dye markers. Based on the Navier-Stokes equations considering the electromagnetic body force, i.e. Lorentz force, in the exponential-polar coordinates, the numerical investigations were carried out by means of an Alternative-Direction Implicit algorithm and a Fast Fourier Transform algorithm. Experimental results have shown the same tendency with the numerical results. For the constant Lorentz forces, called open-loop control, the vortex shedding was fully suppressed. Meanwhile, the weak street disappeared and the drag force was reduced. Based on the Navier-Stokes equations, an adjoint-based ensemble optimization of control algorithms was developed and adjoint equations in the exponential-polar coordinates were derived. The equations were solved by numerical algorithm as mentioned above. The evolutions of the flow field in the control process were discussed according to the calculated variable optimal interaction parameters.