Numerical Modeling of Turbulent Transitional MHD Flow for Boundary Layer Control

The use of a magnetic field applied to a gaseous conducting boundary layer flow as been proposed as a mean to control boundary layer losses. The solution of the Navier-Stokes equations together with the induction equation for the magnetic field was numerically obtained using a Finite Volume code. The effects of the magnetic field are introduced into the momentum equations by means of a Lorentz force source term. Further, several turbulence models were modified in order to include the magnetic field perturbation. The computation of the transitional flow on a flat plate was made for several values of the magnetic field, and a relaminarization of the flow was obtained for sufficient high values of the magnetic field. The code was also applied for the computation of the flow around an airfoil as an example application of an high speed high-altitude UAV.