Direct numerical simulation of two turbulent boundary layer flows has been performed. The boundary layers are both subject to a strong adverse pressure gradient. In one case a separation bubble is created while in the other the boundary layer is everywhere attached. The data from the simulations are used to investigate scaling laws near the wall, a crucial concept in turbulence models. Theoretical work concerning the inner region in a boundary layer under an adverse pressure gradient is reviewed and extended to the case of separation. Excellent agreement between theory and data from the direct numerical simulation is found in the viscous sub-layer, while a qualitative agreement is obtained for the overlap region.

Direct numerical simulations have been performed to study the drag reduction resulting from spatial oscillations of a segment of the wall under a turbulent boundary layer. The oscillating motion is imposed by utilizing a streamwise modulated spanwise wall forcing. The results are compared with earlier simulations using temporal oscillations with an identical segment and forcing amplitudes, and with a frequency related to the wavelength through a convective velocity. Two different oscillation amplitudes with equal oscillation wavelength have been used, which allows for a direct comparison between a relatively weak and strong forcing of the flow. The weaker forcing results in 25 % drag reduction while the stronger forcing, with twice the amplitude, yields 41 % drag reduction. Comparison with the temporal cases reveals drastically improved energy savings for the spatial oscillation technique, in accordance with earlier channel flow investigations. The streamwise variation of spanwise shear is shown to follow the analytical solution to the laminar Navier–Stokes equations derived under the assumption of constant friction velocity. Furthermore, the spanwise velocity profiles at various phases are compared with the analytical solution, and show very good agreement. The downstream development of the spatial Stokes layer thickness is theoretically estimated to be ${\sim }{x}^{1/ 15} $ , in general agreement with the simulation data. The spatial variation of the spanwise Reynolds stress is investigated and compared with the variation in time for the temporal wall forcing cases. The controversy regarding a zero or non-zero production of spanwise Reynolds stress in the temporal case is elucidated. In addition, comparison with the spatial case reveals that a second production term originating from the downstream variation of the spanwise wall velocity has a negative contribution to the production, and hence relates to the larger drag reduction in the case of spatial forcing.

Direct numerical simulations have been performed to study the effect of a stationary distribution of spanwise wall-velocity that oscillates in the streamwise direction on a turbulent boundary layer. For the first time, a spatially developing flow with this type of forcing is studied. The part of the boundary layer which flows over the alternating wall-velocity section is greatly affected with a drag reduction close to 50% which exhibits an oscillatory distribution with a wavenumber which is twice that of the imposed wall-velocity. The maximum in drag reduction occurs where the wall velocity is at its maximum (or minimum) and the minimum occurs where the wall velocity is zero. Comparisons of the mean spanwise velocity profiles with the analytical solution to the laminar Navier-Stokes equations show very good agreement. The streamwise velocity profile indicates a thickening of the viscous sub-layer when scaled with the local friction velocity and an upward shifting of the logarithmic region when scaled with the reference (unmanipulated) friction velocity. An estimation of the idealized power consumption shows that—with the present wall forcing magnitude—more energy is required for the spatial oscillation than what is saved by drag reduction.

The diffuse interface models, part of the family of the front capturing methods, provide an efficient and robust framework for the simulation of multi-species flows. They allow the integration of additional physical phenomena of increasing complexity while ensuring discrete conservation of mass, momentum, and energy. The main drawback brought by the adoption of these models consists of the interface smearing, increasing with the simulation time, therefore, requiring a counteraction through the introduction of sharpening terms and a careful selection of the discretization level. In recent years, the diffuse interface models have been solved using several numerical frameworks including finite volume, discontinuous Galerkin, and hybrid lattice Boltzmann method, in conjunction with shock and contact wave capturing schemes. The present review aims to present the recent advancements of high-order accuracy schemes with the capability of solving discontinuities without the introduction of numerical instabilities and to put them in perspective for the solution of multi-species flows with the diffuse interface method.