Ordinal pattern-based analysis of an opposition-controlled turbulent channel flow

We conduct a numerical study on the drag-reduction mechanism of an opposition-controlled turbulent channel flow from the viewpoint of a symbolic dynamics approach. The effect of the virtual wall formed by the opposition control is maximised at the location of the detection plane y⁺_d ≈ 10. At this wall-normal location, the local link strength of the self-loop of network nodes representing the negative correlation pattern between the streamwise and wall-normal velocity fluctuations is maximised in the uncontrolled flow. In the controlled case, the multiscale complexity–entropy causality plane and the spatial permutation entropy at y⁺_d ≈ 10 indicate that the drag-reduction effect is attributed to the reduction of the region where streaks actively coalesce and separate and the suppression of the regeneration cycle in the region near the wall.