Abstract: The control of a cylindrical shockwave through high-energy surface arc plasma excitation was investigated experimentally by high-speed schlieren system. In the supersonic wind tunnel with Ma=2, three experimental models with cylinder heights of 10, 15, 20 mm were set up respectively. The initial flow field characteristics of different cylinder heights, and the effects of discharge capacitance, DC source voltage and cylinder height on the control of cylindrical shockwave were compared and analyzed. The experimental results show that the blast wave and thermal bubble induced by high-energy surface arc discharge interact with the shockwave, resulting in shape change and intensity weakening of the shockwave. The bow shockwave angle decreases and the intensity of the bow shockwave weakens after applying the plasma actuation. The influence of discharge capacitance and DC source voltage on shock control is correlated positively. With the increase of cylinder height, the control action is weakened and the operating time of control is shortened.