|
Andrew Heckman
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Advisor: Dr. Joshua Rovey
Abstract
Plasma actuators show a great deal of potential as enhancements for aerospace control surfaces, or even as primary control surfaces for small air vehicles. The appeal of these devices as control surfaces is that plasma actuators can react far faster than normal mechanical control surfaces. However, in order for this potential to be fully realized, the effect of the plasma actuators must be known before hand in order to adjust the pressure distribution over a surface, as there would not be enough time to do a complex fluid simulation in real time. This paper describes the simulation and generalization of the effects of a plasma actuator on airflow over a surface at various initial flow speeds for eventual use in a pressure distribution control routine.
Andrew Heckman, from Hazelwood, Missouri and currently a Junior at the Missouri S&T. Went to elementary school at Armstrong elementary and from thence to Hazelwood West for middle school and high school. Maintained high academic standing throughout and as such arrived at then UMR with the Bright Flight scholarship amongst others. Upon completing the freshman engineering program, declared for Mechanical Engineering. The main reasons behind that being that Mechanical Engineering is one of the more flexible fields in engineering, which was appealing. Has continued maintaining a high academic standard since then, and is in the process of obtaining minors in Math, Material Science, and Computer Science. On the extracurricular side of things, has been a member of the Robotic design team since sophomore year and has been working on the computer science section of the team. Since, the beginning of the summer of sophomore year, has been involved in research work. Currently has no definite career plans, but would enjoy working in a research/design capacity in relation with the space industry or robotics.
|
