Experimental control of natural perturbations in channel flow

A combined approach using system identification and feed-forward control design has been applied to experimental laminar channel flow in an effort to reduce the naturally occurring disturbance level. A simple blowing/suction strategy was capable of reducing the standard deviation of the measured sensor signal by 45%, which markedly exceeds previously obtained results under comparable conditions. A comparable reduction could be verified over a significant streamwise extent, implying an improvement over previous, more localized disturbance control. The technique is effective, flexible, and robust, and the obtained results encourage further explorations of experimental control of convection-dominated flows.