Electrostatic Analysis of Electric Field Distribution in AC, Nanosecond Pulsed, and Hybrid DBD Plasma Actuators Using COMSOL Multiphysics.

Dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma actuators are widely used for active flow control due to their ability to generate plasma without moving parts. In this study, a two-dimensional electrostatic model of an asymmetric DBD plasma actuator is developed using COMSOL Multiphysics to investigate the effect of different excitation conditions on electric field distribution. Three excitation cases, namely AC, nanosecond pulsed (NS), and hybrid AC+NS, are considered using simplified voltage approximations.

The results show that the electric field is strongly concentrated near the edge of the exposed electrode for all cases. While the spatial distribution of the electric field remains similar, its magnitude increases with the applied voltage. The hybrid case produces the highest electric field intensity, indicating improved potential for plasma generation. The study demonstrates that a simplified electrostatic approach can provide a qualitative understanding of DBD actuator behavior and serve as a basis for more advanced plasma modeling.