Surface dielectric barrier discharges (DBDs) have been proposed as actuators for flow control. In this paper we discuss the basic mechanisms responsible for the electrohydrodynamic (EHD) force exerted by the discharge on the gas molecules. A two-dimensional fluid model of the DBD is used to describe the plasma dynamics, to understand the basic physics associated with the EHD force and to give some quantitative estimation of the force under simplified conditions. The results show that for ramp or sinusoidal voltage waveforms, the discharge consists of large amplitude short current pulses during which a filamentary plasma spreads along the surface, separated in time by long duration, low current discharge phases of a Townsend or corona type. The contribution of the low current phases to the total force exerted by the discharge on the gas is dominant because their duration is much longer than that of the current pulses and because the force takes place in a much larger volume. A description of the different discharge regimes and a parametric study of the EHD force as a function of voltage rise time and dielectric thickness is presented.

This paper presents a study of the development of a surface dielectric barrier discharge in air under conditions similar to those of plasma actuators for flow control. The study is based on results from a 2D fluid model of the discharge in air that provides the space and time evolution of the charged particle densities, electric field and surface charges. The electrohydrodynamic (EHD) force associated with the momentum transfer from charged particles to neutral molecules in the volume above the dielectric layer is also deduced from the model. Results show that the EHD force is important not only during the positive part of the sinusoidal voltage cycle (i.e. when the electrode on top of the dielectric layer plays the role of the anode) but also during the negative part of the cycle (cathode on top of the dielectric layer). During the positive part of the cycle, the EHD force is due to the formation of a positive ion cloud that is periodically interrupted by high current breakdown. The EHD force during the negative part of the cycle is due to the development of a negative ion cloud that continuously grows during the successive high frequency current pulses that form in this regime.

Dielectric barrier discharges (DBDs) operating in a glow regime exhibit a variety of complex self-organized static or dynamical structures of filaments. Using a fluid model combined with fast camera diagnostics, we propose a clear physical description and explanation of the mechanisms responsible for the generation, annihilation, motion and self-organization of discharge filaments in DBDs in a glow regime. We show that low current “side discharges” generated during the same half-cycle in the vicinity of an isolated filament beyond the inhibition zone associated with charge spreading along the dielectric surface play an essential role in the triggering of these mechanisms.