Investigation of electrode vibration in ionic wind thrusters

Abstract Ionic wind thrusters are emerging electrohydrodynamic propulsion devices that have drawn significant interest owing to their simple structure, silent operation, and potential applications in microaerial vehicles. A high-voltage electrode is a crucial component that directly impacts the corona discharge efficiency and the resultant ionic wind thrust. In this study, significant mechanical vibrations were observed in a high-voltage tungsten wire electrode under alternating current (AC) excitation in a wire-to-cylinder ionic wind thruster operating under atmospheric conditions. The experiments were conducted at a fixed AC frequency of 10 kHz, with voltages ranging from 5 kV to 9 kV. The electrode vibrations were measured using a 3D high-speed video extensometer, and the waveforms and frequency spectra were analyzed. The results reveal that the vibration amplitude increases significantly with voltage. The spectrum reveals harmonic responses at 120 Hz and its multiples (240 Hz and 360 Hz), indicating strong nonlinear vibration behavior. The periodic Coulomb force induced by the AC electric field was confirmed to be the primary excitation source.