Plasma–Based Boundary Layer Control

The development of modern aviation technology has put forward higher requirements for the aerodynamic performance and handling stability of aircraft. Boundary layer flow control has emerged as a pivotal pathway to enhance flight efficiency and operational safety. Plasma flow control (PFC) technology, with its advantages of simple structure, rapid response, and broad frequency bandwidth, has demonstrated significant potential in both low-speed and high-speed flow scenarios. This chapter first elaborates on the fundamental principles of PFC, including the momentum transfer effect, impacting effect, and physical property alteration. Subsequently, in combination with typical application scenarios, the regulatory effects and implementation strategies of plasma actuators are introduced respectively from three aspects: boundary layer mixing, turbulence drag reduction, and high-speed boundary layer transition. Finally, this chapter summarizes the key findings and identifies future research priorities, emphasizing the need for breakthroughs in multi-physics coupling mechanisms, anti-interference optical measurement technologies, high-frequency and high-efficiency actuation power supplies, and intelligent adaptive control frameworks. These efforts are essential to facilitate the transition of PFC technology from experimental research to practical engineering applications.