Direct numerical simulations of turbulent flow in a plane channel using spanwise alternatively distributed strips (SADS) are performed to investigate the characteristics of large-scale streamwise vortices (LSSVs) induced by small-scale active wall actuations, and their role in suppressing flow separation. SADS control is obtained by alternatively applying out-of-phase control (OPC) and in-phase control (IPC) to the wall normal velocity component of the lower channel wall only, in the spanwise direction. Besides the unperturbed channel flow simulated as a reference, four controlled cases with 1, 2, 3 and 4 pairs of OPC/IPC strips are studied in the present paper at M = 0.2 and Re = 6,000, based on the bulk velocity and the channel half height h. The case with 2 pairs of strips is the most effective in terms of generating large-scale motions. It corresponds to a strip width of ∆ + = 264 based on the friction velocity of the unperturbed case. The Reynolds shear stress peak value is located in the main stream of the channel at about 0.39h from the lower channel wall. It is also found that the OPC (resp. IPC) strips suppress (resp. enhance) the coherent structures and that leads to the creation of a vertical shear layer, which is responsible for the LSSVs presence. They are in a statistically steady state and their cores are located between two neighbouring OPC and IPC strips. These motions contribute significantly to the momentum transport in the wall normal and spanwise directions showing potential for flow separation suppression.

Direct numerical simulations (DNS) of Mach = 2.9 supersonic turbulent boundary layers with spanwise wall oscillation (SWO) are conducted to investigate the turbulent heat transport mechanism and its relation with the turbulent momentum transport. The turbulent coherent structures are suppressed by SWO and the drag is reduced. Although the velocity and temperature statistics are disturbed by SWO differently, the turbulence transports of momentum and heat are simultaneously suppressed. The Reynolds analogy and the strong Reynolds analogy are also preserved in all the controlled flows, proving the consistent mechanisms of momentum transport and heat transport in the turbulent boundary layer with SWO. Despite the extra dissipation and heat induced by SWO, a net wall heat flux reduction can be achieved with the proper selected SWO parameters. The consistent mechanism of momentum and heat transports supports the application of turbulent drag reduction technologies to wall heat flux controls in high-speed vehicles.

The effect of spanwise alternatively distributed strips (SADS) control on turbulent flow in a plane channel has been studied by direct numerical simulations to investigate the characteristics of large-scale streamwise vortices (LSSVs) induced by small-scale active wall actuation, and their potential in suppressing flow separation. SADS control is realized by alternatively arranging out-of-phase control (OPC) and in-phase control (IPC) wall actuations on the lower channel wall surface, in the spanwise direction. It is found that the coherent structures are suppressed or enhanced alternatively by OPC or IPC, respectively, leading to the formation of a vertical shear layer, which is responsible for the LSSVs’ presence. Large-scale low-speed region can also be observed above the OPC strips, which resemble large-scale low-speed streaks. LSSVs are found to be in a statistically-converged steady state and their cores are located between two neighboring OPC and IPC strips. Their motions contribute significantly to the momentum transport in the wall-normal and spanwise directions, demonstrating their potential ability to suppress flow separation.