The study of flow past bluff bodies, including circular cylinders, has long been a foundational topic in fluid mechanics, offering both theoretical insights and practical applications across a wide range of fields. It influences the design and performance of buildings, coastal structures, heat exchangers, electronics cooling, chimney stacks, bridges, and flow past automotives, where understanding wake dynamics is essential for improving efficiency and structural integrity. Numerous studies have emphasized the importance of this research, as it provides critical insights into turbulent flows and their interactions with surrounding environments (Nguyen et al., 2023; Forouzi Feshalami et al., 2022; Lekkala et al., 2022; Thompson et al., 2021; Derakhshandeh and Alam, 2019; Sumner, 2013). This field continues to be vital for developing innovative solutions to engineering challenges while advancing our understanding of such complex flow fields.

The classic case of uniform flow past circular cylinder is well understood with key flow features such as flow separation, shear layer interactions, and the formation of the well-known Kármán vortex street. These complex flow characteristics make it a valuable benchmark for developing and validating computational models. However, when a solid boundary, like a bed, is introduced—such as in the case of a wall-mounted cylinder in shallow water (Figure 1) - the flow becomes significantly more complex, exhibiting unique fluid structures and distinct patterns (Wang and Zhou, 2009). These complexities provide an opportunity to study interactions between bluff body wakes and boundary effects, which are highly relevant for real-world scenarios (Wang et al., 2006).

The wake dynamics of wall-mounted bluff bodies, such as circular cylinders, are complex and influenced by factors like the approaching flow boundary layer, bed friction, free surface interactions, and flow stability. In many situations, the flow can be deemed to be shallow, which occurs when the horizontal length scale of an eddy is much larger than the vertical scale (Balachandar et al., 2000). The development of vortices in such flows is affected by the wall and the free surface. Chen and Jirka (1995) categorized shallow near-wake structures into three types—von Kármán vortex street, unsteady wake bubble, and steady wake bubble—based on the stability parameter S = C f d / H , where C f is the bed friction coefficient, d is the cylinder diameter, and H is the flow depth. Studies by Balachandar et al. (2000), Balachandar et al. (1999) showed that continuous Kármán vortices formed when S ≤ 0.008, weak and intermittent vortices appeared for 0.009 ≤ S ≤ 0.018, and vortex shedding ceased when S > 0.021. Akilli and Rockwell (2002) observed significant upward velocities and free surface distortions in the near wake of a cylinder in shallow water at Reynolds number R e H = 1 × 10 4 . Heidari et al. (2017) further noted that both the bed and free surface significantly influence wake flow under shallow conditions, with disturbances intensifying at higher R e and Froude numbers ( F r ). They proposed a modified stability parameter S * = C f + C d d / H , where C d is the drag coefficient, incorporating both bed friction and drag coefficients. Additional studies have examined the effect of free surface interactions on wake dynamics (Akilli and Rockwell, 2002; Suh et al., 2011; Kawamura et al., 2002). Suh et al. (2011) found that vortex shedding near the free surface diminishes in deep flows due to weak interaction between shear layers, while Kawamura et al. (2002) demonstrated that higher F r amplify surface waves, intensifying their interaction with the wake.

Flow past a circular cylinder result in a periodic vortex shedding in the wake, leading to a drop in pressure and an increase in drag forces, as well as oscillating lift forces. These vortex-induced effects can cause structural vibrations and, in severe cases, lead to vortex-induced vibrations (VIVs) that can damage the structure (Ali et al., 2021; Ma et al., 2022; Janocha et al., 2022; Wu et al., 2022; Duranay et al., 2023; Xu and Ma, 2024; Sahu et al., 2024; Huera-Huarte, 2024). As a result, controlling vortex shedding is crucial in engineering applications to prevent such issues and improve the overall performance and durability of structures.

Among other engineering examples, flow past bed-mounted circular cylinders also resembles that around vegetation patches found in rivers and streams (Chatelain and Proust, 2021; Liu et al., 2021; Liu et al., 2022; Tariq et al., 2022; Tanaka, 2022; Kingora and Sadat, 2022; Barman and Kumar, 2022; Li et al., 2023). These interactions between fluid and vegetation create intricate flow patterns, promote turbulence, and have a significant impact on river ecosystems. Understanding how aquatic vegetation affects flow is vital for river restoration. Vegetation enhances ecology by aiding nutrient uptake, oxygen production, water purification, and filtering heavy metals like lead and mercury. The flow structure and turbulence downstream are crucial for these functions. Effective river system management thus requires a deep understanding of how the flow past cylinder modifies wake flow characteristics.

Additionally, understanding the flow characteristics and corresponding heat transfer behavior in the wake of bluff bodies is essential for developing and improving thermal management designs. Principal applications include electronic cooling systems and better thermal management systems. Flow past cylinders results in flow separation, and recirculation zones in the wake, which hinder effective heat transfer and lead to hotspots and uneven temperature distribution in cooling system designs (Terekhov, 2021; Abdollahzadeh Jamalabadi, 2021). Therefore, effective flow control mechanisms are required to address these flow and thermal challenges to disrupt stagnant flow regions, enhance turbulence, and promote better mixing in the wake.

Consequently, controlling the wake flow behind bluff bodies, especially circular cylinders, is an important aspect of engineering design. This has led to the development of various techniques, which are generally classified into active and passive flow control methods. The primary goal of both active and passive techniques is to reduce drag forces, control vortex shedding, and minimize the risk of VIV, thereby enhancing the stability and service life of structures (Zhao, 2023). These techniques help prevent damage and ensure the efficient functioning of engineering systems in various applications. Active control methods, such as suction flow, cylinder oscillation, and synthetic jets, use external energy sources to manipulate fluid flow and reduce vortex shedding (Chen et al., 2022). While these methods are effective, they can be costly and energy intensive. On the other hand, passive flow control techniques focus on altering the geometry of the cylinder to achieve similar results without requiring additional energy input (Ain et al., 2022). Additionally, passive methods are often favored for their lower cost, ease of implementation, and minimal maintenance needs. Examples include the use of splitter plates, control cylinders, protrusions, helical strakes, foam coverings, slots, holes, surface dimples, roughness elements, and grooves in different orientations (Mittal and Sharma, 2021; Eydi et al., 2022; Sun et al., 2022; Zhu et al., 2023; Zeng et al., 2023; Sahu et al., 2023; Wang and Li, 2023; Muñoz-Hervás et al., 2024; Murali and Petha Sethuraman, 2024; Sikdar et al., 2024; Zhu et al., 2024; Zhao et al., 2021; Rastan and Alam, 2021; Xiao and Jing, 2024; Kusano, 2024; Roy, 2023; Priyadarsan and Afzal, 2023; Zheng et al., 2023; Yu et al., 2024; Sharma et al., 2022; Sharma and Barman, 2023; Edegbe et al., 2024).

This paper aims to examine and compare various passive flow control mechanisms for managing wake flow behind bed-mounted plain cylinder (PC) in shallow flows, including the use of helical straked cylinder (HSC), meshed cylinder (MC), foam-covered cylinder (FC), single-slotted cylinder (SC), cross-slotted cylinder (CSC), and cylinder with holes (CWH). A simple schematic of such configurations is shown in Figure 2. The detailed literature review explores the principles, applications, and effects of each technique, including both experimental and numerical studies. While extensive literature exists for individual flow control techniques, comparative studies between different methods are notably absent. Moreover, particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements were conducted to capture unsteady flow structures in the wake of these cylinders. The PIV measurements enabled a comparison of wake characteristics with and without passive flow control techniques for optimizing wake flow in engineering applications.

The paper is arranged as follows: Section 2 discusses the current literature available on various flow control mechanisms, Section 3 shows the experimental setup used to investigate the effects on wake dynamics of circular cylinders, Section 4 provides the discussion of the results, and finally Section 5 concludes the research and provides future recommendations.

VIV is a significant concern in offshore engineering, particularly in the design of structures subjected to fluid flow, such as risers, pipes, and marine platforms (Duranay et al., 2023; Xu and Ma, 2024). VIV can lead to severe fatigue damage, reducing the operational lifespan of these structures and posing safety risks. As such, a wide array of techniques has been explored to mitigate VIV, with helical strakes and mesh coverings emerging as one of the most effective solutions (Korkischko and Meneghini, 2010). These devices, typically wrapped around cylindrical structures, disrupt the periodic vortex shedding that drives VIV, thereby reducing the amplitude of oscillations. In addition to VIV suppression, strakes have also been shown to affect heat transfer characteristics. The enhanced turbulence created by helical strakes can increase the convective heat transfer rate by improving the mixing of the boundary layer, leading to better thermal performance. A schematic of flow past a bed-mounted helical and meshed circular cylinders is shown in Figure 3, where h = strake height and ϴ = flow incidence angle.

Numerous experimental studies have focused on the impact of helical strakes on flow past cylinders, exploring their effectiveness in reducing VIVs, listed in Table 1 (Korkischko and Meneghini, 2010; Hao et al., 2010; Zhou et al., 2010; Zhou et al., 2011; Huang, 2011; Korkischko and Meneghini, 2011; Huang and Sworn, 2013; Quen et al., 2014; Gao et al., 2014; Sui et al., 2016; Gao Y. et al., 2017; Senga and Larsen, 2017; Quen et al., 2018; Ren et al., 2019a; Ren et al., 2019b; Xu et al., 2020; Ren et al., 2020; Yadegari et al., 2023; Thakurta and Balachandar, 2025). Korkischko and Meneghini (Korkischko and Meneghini, 2010) tested different pitch and height combinations of helical strakes and found that smaller strake heights ( h / d = 0.1) reduced oscillations, while h / d = 0.2 and 0.25 nearly eliminated VIV. Their observations showed that in tandem arrangements, wake interference led to galloping-like oscillations. Using stereoscopic digital particle image velocimetry (SDPIV), their study highlighted how strakes disrupted vortex shedding and controlled out-of-plane flow. Building on this, Hao et al. (2010) further explored vortex structures using hot film and PIV measurements in the wake of HSC. Using a triple strake system with varying h / d , they found significant VIV suppression, especially with h / d = 0.2, leading to a more stable wake and weakened vortex shedding.

Similarly, Zhou et al. (2010), Zhou et al. (2011) conducted wind tunnel experiments on HSC, demonstrating up to 98% VIV reduction. The strakes eliminated lock-in behavior and weakened vortex shedding, causing phase mismatches along the cylinder’s height. This was further supported by velocity measurements, which showed significant variations in the dominant vortex frequency. Huang (2011) also focused on VIV suppression and drag reduction, showing a 64% reduction in VIV amplitude and a 25% drag reduction for fixed cylinders, underscoring the dual benefits of helical structures. Similarly, Korkischko and Meneghini (2011) used a two-camera stereoscopic PIV system to investigate the flow behind HSC. They found that strake pitch ( p / d ) of 10 and height ( h / d ) of 0.1 and 0.2 introduced a defined wavelength in the wake, which increased vortex formation length—critical for VIV suppression. In addition, Huang and Sworn (2013) explored the hydrodynamic coefficients of stationary HSC in staggered and tandem positions. While strakes increased drag, they significantly reduced fluctuating forces on the upstream cylinder, although the effect was less pronounced on the downstream cylinder.

Quen et al. (2014) extended this research to flexible risers, showing that strakes with heights greater than the laminar boundary layer thickness were most effective in reducing VIV. They also found that p / d influenced the occurrence of lock-in, while increasing h / d narrowed the lock-in region. Strakes proved more effective for rigid cylinders than flexible ones, though drag penalties were observed at higher reduced velocities. Gao et al. (2014) further confirmed that VIV suppression depended heavily on h / d and noted that strakes significantly reduced fatigue damage in the crossflow direction, although drag increased with both pitch and height. Expanding on these findings, Sui et al. (2016) focused on a flexible cylinder with large mass-damping parameters at R e = 2.7 × 10 3 and 57.9 × 10 3 , finding that strake height and coverage were the most significant factors for VIV suppression, with the optimal configuration of p / d = 5 and h / d = 0.14 achieving over 85% suppression efficiency, and up to 98% at a reduced velocity U r = 20, where U r = U o / f n d , U o and f n are the free stream velocity and natural frequency of the cylinder, respectively. Flow visualizations confirmed that strakes altered shear layer interactions, reducing vortex scale and vortex shedding. In a similar manner, Gao Y. et al. (2017) studied flexible risers with helical strakes under uniform and linearly sheared currents. They found that strake coverage played a crucial role in VIV suppression, with configurations of 75% and 50% coverage being optimal for uniform and sheared currents, respectively, effectively reducing fatigue damage.

On the other hand, Senga and Larsen (2017) investigated the hydrodynamic coefficients of HSC through forced motion experiments—where controlled oscillations were applied to the test cylinder using a computer-controlled towing carriage equipped with a motion simulator and load cells for force measurement—and observed significant differences in drag and added mass coefficients compared to bare cylinders. These findings demonstrated how helical strakes disrupt vortex shedding and enhance flow stability. Similarly, Quen et al. (2018) examined two- and three-start helical strakes on a flexible cylinder, revealing that three-start strakes were more effective in reducing VIV amplitude. The best configuration involved a three-start strake with p / d = 10 and h / d = 0.15, emphasizing the importance of strake configuration in VIV suppression. Ren et al. (2019a), Ren et al. (2019b) studied VIV suppression in flexible pipes fitted with helical strakes in oscillatory flow and found that while strakes were effective in steady flow, their efficiency decreased in unsteady conditions. They also highlighted the impact of strakes on drag coefficients in uniform flow, noting that p / d = 5 reduced mean drag coefficients while simultaneously suppressing VIV. Xu et al. (2020) expanded on this by exploring the performance of helical strakes on two side-by-side flexible cylinders. They found that strakes effectively reduced VIV in both single and multi-cylinder configurations, suggesting their applicability in complex offshore systems. In contrast, Ren et al. (2020) examined hydrodynamic coefficients in oscillatory flow and showed that strakes increased drag, underlining the need to balance VIV suppression with potential drag penalties in unsteady flows. Yadegari et al. (2023) studied the wake characteristics of HSC at R e = 1 × 10 4 and 4 × 10 4 , observing a reduction in turbulence intensity and shifts in the critical R e for vortex shedding, which contributed to improved stability by altering the wake structure. Similarly, Thakurta and Balachandar (2025) investigated wake dynamics of wall-mounted HSC in shallow flow, finding that strakes increased turbulence levels and influenced vortex formation, with strake orientation ( θ ) affecting Reynolds stresses and wake mixing, potentially optimizing VIV reduction in wall-mounted structures.

In addition to these experimental findings, several computational studies have also explored the effects of helical strakes on VIV suppression, listed in Table 1 (Constantinides and Oakley, 2006; Carmo et al., 2012; Ranjith et al., 2016; Chen et al., 2019; Ishihara and Li, 2020). Constantinides and Oakley (Constantinides and Oakley, 2006) used a second-order finite element computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method to simulate VIV of bare and straked cylinders. They compared two turbulence models—Spalart-Allmaras Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) modelling and detached eddy simulation (DES)—and found that strakes effectively mitigated VIV by disrupting vortex shedding, with DES providing more accurate results than RANS. Carmo et al. (2012) utilized two- and three-dimensional (2D and 3D) simulations using spectral element method to study flow around cylinders with strakes. Their results showed that while 2D simulations were ineffective at suppressing vibrations, 3D simulations demonstrated that strakes reduced vortex shedding correlation along the span and altered vortex wake formation, thereby improving VIV suppression. Similarly, Ranjith et al. (2016) numerically examined the effects of three-strand helical strakes on VIV suppression for a rigid circular cylinder at R e = 0.1 × 10 3 and 28 × 10 3 with p / d = 10 and h / d = 0.15. Their results showed that while helical strakes increased drag, they reduced VIV by nearly 99%, highlighting their effectiveness in stabilizing the flow and suppressing vortex shedding.

Expanding on this work, Chen et al. (2019) conducted 3D CFD simulations to investigate helical strakes’ impact on VIV suppression in flexible risers. They found that strakes disrupted vortex structures and reduced vortex shedding frequency, achieving a 97% reduction in transverse vibration at a reduced velocity of 7. In a similar manner, Ishihara and Li (2020) studied VIV suppression in HSC using a large eddy simulation (LES) model. Their study showed that helical wires reduced VIV amplitude by nearly 80%, primarily by enhancing 3D disturbances in the wake, thus reducing fluctuating lift forces and improving aerodynamic damping. While the effectiveness of helical strakes in mitigating VIV has been consistently demonstrated across a wide range of experimental and numerical studies, the effect on heat transfer rates due to the vortical structures responsible for enhanced turbulence still needs to be explored.

Another method to modify and control the flow separation and wake dynamics is the use of slots. The flow from the slot acts as a jet in the wake region, disrupting stagnant flow regions and increasing turbulence. This helps in controlling wake to reduce vortex formations and improving heat transfer in various engineering designs. A schematic of flow past a bed-mounted slotted circular cylinder is shown in Figure 4a, where s = slot width and ϴ = flow incidence angle. Researchers have conducted numerous experimental studies in the past for examining the flow past single slots due to its effectiveness as a passive flow control mechanism (see Table 2). (Igarashi, 1978; Igarashi, 1982; Olsen and Rajagopalan, 2000; Fu and Rockwell, 2005; Peng et al., 2012; Ordia et al., 2017; Gao et al., 2017b; Gao et al., 2017c; Kim et al., 2023; Boamah, 2024) An early experimental study was conducted by Igarashi (1978), Igarashi (1982), who examined the flow characteristics around SC. The findings revealed that θ significantly influenced flow behavior. For 0 ° ≤ θ ≤ 40 ° , self-injection into the wake was observed, raising the base pressure and moving the vortex formation region downstream. For θ values beyond 60°, periodic boundary layer suction was observed, reducing the base pressure coefficient and vortex shedding frequency. These studies laid a foundation for understanding flow control using slots.

Building on this foundation, further investigations by Olsen and Rajagopalan (2000) explored vortex shedding in SC and concave rear notches. They noted distinct differences in the Strouhal number and drag coefficient compared to plain cylinders. For a cylinder with a slot normal to the flow, the drag coefficient reached 1.41, higher than the baseline case. Stable vortex shedding patterns were observed at specific Reynolds numbers, providing insights into modifying wake structures. In another study, Fu and Rockwell (2005) examined shallow flow past a cylinder with base bleed through a narrow slot using PIV measurements, demonstrating its ability to delay vortex formation significantly. The delayed vortex formation was attributed to the interaction between the base bleed and near-wake flow structures.

Peng et al. (2012) expanded this understanding by focusing on vortex shedding from SC in both wind tunnel and water channel experiments. They found an optimal range of s / d = 0.1 – 0.15 , where vortex shedding signals exhibited high quality and two-dimensionality. The linear Strouhal-Reynolds number relationship within this range underscored the role of slot in maintaining flow coherence across R e . Complementing these findings, Ordia et al. (2017) visualized flow past SC and revealed unique wake behaviors, including symmetric and anti-phase vortex shedding. At higher s / d , the configuration acted as two different bodies, producing increased vortex shedding.

Gao et al. (2017b), Gao et al. (2017c) extended the exploration by studying flow characteristics around SC at various θ , using PIV to quantify wake modifications. A slot at low θ effectively reduced drag and suppressed lift fluctuations. At higher angles, boundary layer suction and blowing became dominant, delaying flow separation and shrinking the wake width. Recently, Kim et al. (2023) investigated the combined effects of slots and axially arranged holes on flow control. The passive jet from the leeward side pushed the wake vortex downstream, reducing drag at smaller θ . However, at larger angles, alternate blowing and suction promoted boundary layer transition, shortening shear layers and increasing drag. In a related study, Boamah (2024) examined the effect of θ on SC wake flow in shallow conditions. PIV measurements showed varying wake characteristics, with jet momentum decreasing as θ increased from 0° to 30°. At higher angles, shear layer interactions intensified, shifting peak Reynolds shear stress closer to the bluff body.

Similarly, researchers have conducted numerous numerical studies to highlight the effectiveness of slots as passive flow control mechanisms, listed in Table 2 (Baek and Karniadakis, 2009; Jian Sheng and Chen, 2016; Wang and Wang, 2016; Ma and Kuo, 2016; Bao et al., 2018). By altering wake structures, delaying separation, and modifying vortex dynamics, slots enable enhanced aerodynamic performance and flow management across a wide range of applications. For instance, Baek and Karniadakis (2009) conducted simulations using spectral element method to investigate the hydrodynamic effect of SC to minimize VIV without energy consumption. The slot, positioned parallel to the incoming flow, effectively suppressed VIV by weakening or detuning vortex shedding. At R e = 5 × 10 2 , the optimal slot size was identified, with smaller sizes required at R e = 1 × 10 3 . Larger s / d , however, caused increased jet-like flow, altering the vortex shedding behaviour. Stability analysis revealed changes in wake stability, inducing regions of absolute and convective instability.

Building on this, Jian Sheng and Chen (2016) explored the impact of a slot positioned along the diameter of a circular cylinder for drag reduction and vortex suppression. The study demonstrated that drag reduction occurred by diverting fluid from the front stagnation region to the low-pressure zone behind the cylinder. In the range of R e = 0.6 × 10 2 – 2.5 × 10 2 , increasing the slot width ratio reduced both drag and lift coefficients, while vortex shedding from the slot altered the wake flow, shifting vortex formation further downstream. Further investigations into heat transfer and flow were conducted by Wang and Wang (2016), who examined a rectangular channel with SC using LES at R e = 3.7 × 10 3 . The interaction between the cylinder’s wake and the boundary layer significantly improved heat transfer. Compared to a plain cylinder, the impinging jet from the slot enhanced wake and boundary layer interaction.

Additionally, Ma and Kuo (2016) conducted 2D flow simulations around a circular cylinder with a normal slot at R e = 2 × 10 2 . They examined slot ratios ranging from s / d = 0.03 to 0.3 and found that periodic blowing and suction at the slot delayed boundary-layer separation and shortened the vortex formation length. A t   s / d = 0.18 , optimal synchronization between slot flow and vortex-street formation resulted in primary lock-on of the wake. Lastly, Bao et al. (2018) studied SC at low R e , varying s / d from 0 to 0.3 and θ from 0° to 90°. For angles between 0° and 45°, larger s / d and smaller angles resulted in reduced drag and lift coefficients, with a maximum drag reduction of 28.6% at s / d = 0.30 and θ = 0°. However, for angles between 60° and 90°, drag and lift coefficients increased due to strengthened and stabilized vortex patterns. Despite these comprehensive studies on flow field characteristics, there remains a lack of detailed experimental and numerical investigations examining the corresponding effects of slotted cylinders in heat transfer applications.

Building on the work done on single slots, researchers have explored the use of multiple slotted cylinders in modifying the flow characteristics, suppress vortex shedding, reducing drag, and enhancing heat transfer. A schematic of flow past a bed-mounted slotted circular cylinder is shown in Figure 4b, where s = slot width and ϴ = flow incidence angle. As compared to the single slots, the literature on the flow past multiple slotted cylinders is limited, listed in Table 3 (Shi and Feng, 2015; Chen et al., 2023; Taj et al., 2024; Wang and Dong, 2017; Zhu et al., 2019). Researchers have conducted few experimental studies to examine the effectiveness of multiple slots as a passive flow control mechanism to modify wake dynamics, improve aerodynamic performance, and enhance heat transfer (Shi and Feng, 2015; Chen et al., 2023; Taj et al., 2024). For example, Shi and Feng (2015) explored flow control around a circular cylinder using bleed jets near the separation points. Their study revealed that s / d had a substantial impact on wake dynamics, with larger slots increasing vortex formation length and reducing vortex shedding frequency, leading to a more stable vortex pattern.

Building on this, Chen et al. (2023) examined the wake dynamics of a circular cylinder with two perpendicular slots at R e = 1.8 × 10 3 . Their results showed that the introduction of slots altered vortex shedding behavior, reduced drag, and shifted vortex formation downstream. Further advancing the understanding of CSC configurations, Taj et al. (2024) investigated the wake dynamics of a wall-mounted CSC in a shallow water channel at R e = 1.45 × 10 4 . Their findings showed that the cross-slot configuration accelerated the flow behind the cylinder, moving the recirculation region downstream and increasing turbulence in the near wake. This increased turbulence impacts heat transfer, suggesting that cross-slotted cylinders could offer a promising solution for thermal management by reducing temperatures in heat-accumulated areas near the wake.

In a numerical context, Wang and Dong (2017) studied the flow and heat transfer characteristics of a multiple slotted cylinder. Their results showed that increasing s / d suppressed vortex shedding, reduced drag and lift coefficients, and improved heat transfer performance. Notably, the transition from 2D to 3D vortex shedding was influenced by s / d , further emphasizing the role of slot geometry in improving flow behavior and thermal performance. Moreover, Zhu et al. (2019) conducted direct numerical simulations of flow over a multiple slotted cylinder at a low R e = 1 × 10 2 . They compared several slot types, including streamwise, T-shaped, Y-shaped, and transverse slots. Their findings showed that the transverse slot was the most effective in reducing drag and lift forces, stabilizing vortex shedding, and improving overall flow dynamics.

Furthermore, Alshareef et al. (2022) examined cylinders with orthogonal and parallel slots under transverse flow for R e = 1 × 10 2 and 10 × 10 2 . They found that slotted cylinders achieved significant heat transfer improvements—up to 81% for orthogonal slots and 100% for parallel slots—due to the increased surface area. Despite additional viscous drag, total drag force was reduced by up to 30%. The performance index, representing the ratio of heat transfer to drag force, showed the best results for parallel slots, with values reaching up to 2.8. Recently, Alhashem et al. (2024) focused on V-shape slotted cylinders, where drag reduction reached up to 67% at s / d = 0.2 . Heat transfer improved with increasing s / d , peaking at an enhancement of 192% at s / d = 0.15 before declining. The optimal performance index occurred at s / d = 0.175 . However, detailed numerical and experimental investigations of the effect of various parameters like θ , R e , and s / d for the case of CSC is needed as observed in the case of SC.

The addition of a foam covering alters flow and turbulence patterns by interrupting large-scale structures and minimizing flow-induced oscillations, which can otherwise compromise structural integrity (Bruneau and Mortazavi, 2008). Porous media provide a passive method for wake flow control while protecting the main body by introducing an alternate flow zone that separates the structure from oscillations. This intermediate zone breaks up large-scale vortices, reduces vortex shedding frequency, and minimizes VIV. Additionally, FC reduce aerodynamic drag, offer shelter for aquatic habitats, and find applications in filters, mixers, heat exchangers, and environmental studies like aquatic vegetation flows and fish passages near hydraulic structures (Arbak and Dukhan, 2020; Li et al., 2021; Boules et al., 2021; Freitas et al., 2022; Hu et al., 2023).

A schematic of flow past a bed-mounted foam-covered circular cylinder is shown in Figure 5. FC comprises an inner solid cylinder wrapped in highly porous foam. Fluid flows through the porous region, emerging from the sides or rear end while vertical bleeding is restricted by the enclosing plates. This porous flow creates an intermediate velocity zone, shielding the wake of the inner cylinder and delaying shear layer roll-ups, which extend the recirculation region. The foam structure further stretches this region, carrying fluid downstream and reattaching to the bottom wall over a longer distance.

The addition of porous or foam materials to the surface of cylinders has been investigated experimentally in the past to modify flow characteristics (Sueki et al., 2010; Zong and Nepf, 2012; Ashtiani Abdi et al., 2014; Yuan et al., 2016; Klausmann and Ruck, 2017; Ashtiani Abdi et al., 2017; Xia et al., 2018; Du et al., 2022; Xu et al., 2023; Das et al., 2023). For example, Sueki et al. (2010) explored the application of porous materials using PIV to reduce aerodynamic sound from bluff bodies. Their experiments revealed a significant reduction in aerodynamic sound for porous-coated cylinders due to suppressed vortex shedding and stabilized shear layers. Surface pressure distribution and aerodynamic force fluctuations were altered, reducing unstable vortex motion, widened zero-velocity regions and reduced vortex shedding intensity. Similarly, Zong and Nepf (2012) studied the wake behind porous circular obstructions in a channel, mimicking vegetation. They found a steady wake region downstream, with length increasing with porosity ( 1 − ∅ , where ∅ is the solid volume fraction), delaying the von Kármán vortex street formation. Elevated transverse velocity fluctuations occurred near the obstruction and at downstream locations where large-scale oscillations began. Porosity significantly altered wake structures and delayed vortex formation.

Ashtiani Abdi et al. (2014) used hot-wire anemometery (HWA) technique to investigate heated FC across R e = 1 × 10 3 − 10 × 10 3 . Heating influenced flow instability and vortex shedding, with increased surface turbulence reducing pressure drop and enhancing heat transfer. Porous materials modified both flow behavior and thermal properties. Further extending the experimental understandings, Yuan et al. (2016) studied finite circular cylinders with porous coatings using HWA, revealing reduced vortex shedding frequency and expanded wake regions. Porous coating stabilized the boundary layer, suppressed Kelvin-Helmholtz instability, and delayed shear layer roll-up, leading to weaker shear layer interactions and more stable flow. In another experimental study using laser Doppler anemometry (LDA), Klausmann and Ruck (2017) examined drag reduction via porous coatings on the leeward side of circular cylinders. Experiments showed a maximum drag reduction of 13.2% at subcritical R e . Porous coatings reduced pressure fluctuations and shifted vortex formation downstream, reconfiguring the wake region and diminishing aerodynamic forces. Additionally, Ashtiani Abdi et al. (2017) compared flow structures downstream of foamed and bare tubes using PIV. Experiments at R e = 4 × 10 3 and 16 × 10 3 showed increased three-dimensionality of flow in the streamwise direction for foamed tubes, with elongated flow structures downstream. Spanwise and normal directions exhibited minimal structural changes.

Xia et al. (2018) used HWA, PIV, and smoke-wire visualization to study wake dynamics of porous-coated cylinders. Results indicated reduced Reynolds stresses, elongated vortex formation length, and widened wake regions. Proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) analysis revealed weakened asymmetrical vortex shedding for porous coatings, with symmetric modes gaining prominence. Moreover, Du et al. (2022) investigated drag reduction using porous materials of varying permeability on cylinder surfaces. Experiments showed a maximum drag reduction of 10.21% with optimized porous material placement. Flow visualization indicated expanded vortex regions, reduced shedding frequency, and dissipated vorticity. Furthermore, Xu et al. (2023) examined pressure drag and aerodynamic noise for cylinders with porous coatings. Experimental results showed that porous coatings suppress near-field pressure fluctuations and far-field noise. Key parameters, including pore density and coating thickness, were analyzed to optimize drag and noise reduction. Recently, Das et al. (2023) studied wake characteristics of FC using LES validated by PIV. Foam coverings interrupted large periodic structures, suppressed lateral oscillations, and shifted vortex regions downstream. Spectral analysis highlighted reduced dominant frequencies and modified recirculation regions.

Similarly, researchers have conducted numerous numerical studies to highlight the effect of foam coverings on fluid dynamics and heat transfer, listed in Table 4 (Das et al., 2023; Bhattacharyya et al., 2006; Bhattacharyya and Singh, 2011; Odabaee et al., 2011; Liu et al., 2014; Chang et al., 2017; Arcondoulis et al., 2019). For instance, Bhattacharyya et al. (2006) investigated flow past FC using numerical simulations. They examined R e = 1 and 40 , with Darcy numbers in the range of 10 − 6 to 1.5 . Their results showed that increasing Darcy numbers reduced drag coefficients, altered separation angles, and influenced recirculation lengths. Similarly, Bhattacharyya and Singh (2011) performed a numerical investigation using a porous covering. They explored the effects of porous layer thickness and permeability, revealing significant drag reduction and oscillation damping. The study demonstrated that optimal porous layer characteristics can suppress vortex shedding and stabilize the wake.

Furthermore, Odabaee et al. (2011) conducted numerical simulations on heat transfer augmentation from a metal FC in crossflow. They found an optimal porous layer thickness for maximizing heat transfer while minimizing pressure drop. Results showed higher heat transfer rates compared to finned-tube heat exchangers, emphasizing the effectiveness of metal foam coatings. Likewise, Liu et al. (2014) analyzed flow past FC using unsteady RANS simulations. They demonstrated that porous coatings mitigated aerodynamic force fluctuations, suppressed vortex shedding, and reduced mean drag. The sensitivity of aerodynamic forces to coating thickness was highlighted, showing its importance in flow-induced noise reduction and aerodynamic optimization. Building on this, Chang et al. (2017) examined the effects of solid volume fraction, relative cylinder diameter, turbulence structures, and sediment erosion using DES. Their findings provided insights into wake dynamics and sediment transport in vegetative flows. Lastly, Arcondoulis et al. (2019) designed structured porous materials for passive flow and noise control around cylinders. The results demonstrated the effectiveness of 3D-printed porous coatings in reducing vortex shedding tones and aerodynamic noise. The structured porous design showed potential for further optimization and tailored flow control applications. While foam-covered cylinders have shown promise in attenuating vortex shedding and suppressing wake instabilities, comprehensive studies investigating the unsteady wake dynamics—particularly at higher R e —remain limited.

Although introducing slots along the entire span of the cylinder has proven effective in altering flow behavior, increasing the slot width to enhance performance often compromises the structural integrity of the model. Similarly, a continuous slot along the cylinder weakens the body’s overall stability. To address these limitations, an array of holes drilled through the cylinder offer an alternative. This approach retains the advantages of passive flow control while maintaining the structural strength of the model, making it a practical solution for engineering applications. A schematic of flow past a bed-mounted CWH is shown in Figure 6, where d h = hole diameter, s h = distance between consecutive holes, and ϴ = flow incidence angle. A limited literature is available for the flow past CWH, listed in Table 5 (Kim et al., 2023; Yajima and Sano, 1996; Firat et al., 2017; Clapperton and Bearman, 2018; Firat et al., 2019). For instance, Yajima and Sano (Yajima and Sano, 1996) showed that two arrays of holes across the diameter of a hollow circular cylinder led to significant drag reduction of up to 40% at R e = 5 × 10 3 and 9 × 10 3 . Their study demonstrated the potential of hole configurations in reducing drag across a range of attack angles. Firat et al. (2017) investigated the wake behind cylinders with two rows of holes at a R e = 6.9 × 10 3 , varying hole diameter ratio ( d h / d ) and hole-to-hole gap ratio ( s h / d ). They found that larger hole diameters increased jet momentum, leading to an expanded recirculation region and shifted vortex formation. These changes affected the shear layers and vortex shedding patterns, showing that hole configuration significantly modifies wake behavior and contributes to drag reduction.

Clapperton and Bearman (2018) examined passive jets generated through spanwise holes at R e = 3 × 10 4 to 28 × 10 4 . They found that these jets delayed flow separation and suppressed vortex shedding, resulting in a 14.5% drop in drag from the baseline cylinder. Their study highlighted the role of passive jets in flow control and drag reduction. In a subsequent study, Firat et al. (2019) explored cylinders with holes at ± 90 ° from the front stagnation line. Their findings showed that this configuration acted like a synthetic jet actuator, producing a 14.4% drag reduction. They also identified how the holes initiated 3D instabilities in the wake, further influencing drag and flow characteristics. Kim et al. (2023) studied flow control over cylinders using a slot and holes at R e = 3.2 × 10 4 . They observed that at small incidence angles, θ , the passive jet reduced drag by pushing the wake vortex downstream. However, when θ increased beyond a critical threshold, alternate blowing and suction led to boundary-layer transitions, increasing drag. The study emphasized the importance of θ in optimizing flow control. While a few experimental studies, as discussed above, are available, detailed numerical investigations of the flow field around CWH are lacking in the literature.

The detailed literature review explored the principles, applications, and effects of various passive flow control mechanisms for managing wake flow behind bed-mounted PCs, incorporating both experimental and numerical studies. While extensive research exists on individual flow control techniques, comparative studies between different methods are notably lacking. Additionally, the literature reveals variations in approach flow conditions across studies. Therefore, there is a need to evaluate and compare the wake flow characteristics of these passive mechanisms under identical or near-identical inflow conditions.