Characterization of Synthetic Jet Resonant Cavities

The acoustic properties of piezo-electric driven resonant cavities usually employed to generate the so-called synthetic jets are analytically and numerically investigated in order to characterize the performances of such devices. It is shown that the actuator behaves as a two-coupled oscillators system and the dimensionless form of the governing equations allows one to identify various particular operating conditions. The theoretical predictions are validated through experimental tests carried out on devices having different mechanical and geometrical characteristics, designed in order to achieve an increasing coupling strength. Practical design implementations are discussed as well.