Helmholtz Resonance Frequency of the Synthetic Jet Actuator

This paper presents the results of experimental investigations of 108 geometrical configurations of a loudspeaker-driven synthetic jet (SJ) actuator. The considered cases of the SJ actuator were characterized by a high coupling ratio. The experiment was performed to determine the impact of geometry on the Helmholtz resonance frequency. Geometrical parameters of the orifice diameter, orifice length, and cavity volume were changed within a wide range. The dependences of electrical and flow parameters that characterized the synthetic jet actuators as a function of the excitation frequency were also identified. The main goal of the research was to identify the optimal mathematical formula of the model to calculate the Helmholtz resonance frequency in the case of synthetic jet actuators. To determine the model that was characterized by the best fit of the experimental results, an additional geometrical dimensionless parameter, representing the ratio of the orifice cross-section area to the cross-section area of the cavity, was introduced. A significant impact of this parameter on the effective orifice length was noted. Based on the research findings, a model was obtained for which the results of the experiment were in the error range of ±6% for 95% of the measurement data. The obtained model is an improved version of the classical model used in the description of the resonance frequency in the case of a synthetic jet actuator. The model enables highly accurate determination of the Helmholtz resonance frequency at which the maximum synthetic jet actuator parameters occur.