Dielectric　barrier　discharge　using　pulsed-DC　high　voltage　(pulsed-DC　DBD)　have　been　proven　to　be　capable　of　effectively　reducing　skin　friction　drag　in　turbulent　boundary　layers　with　limited　power　consumption,　thus　producing　significant　net　power　savings.　In　this　work,　the　characteristics　of　pulsed-DC　DBD,　including　power　consumption,　induced　flow　structure,　thermal　effect,　and　body　force,　are　investigated　sequentially.　Both　the　power　consumption　and　pressure　waves　produced　by　pulsed-DC　DBD　are　similar　to　that　of　DBD　using　nanosecond　pulses　(ns-DBD),　whereas　the　wall-bounded　jet　structure　resembles　that　of　DBD　using　sinusoidal　high　voltage　(ac-DBD).　A　curved　wall　jet　is　induced　at　a　small　pulse　width,　which　turns　into　a　straight　one　due　to　the　combined　effect　of　momentum　and　thermal　addition　when　the　pulse　width　increases.　With　increasing　pulse　width,　the　induced　body　force　goes　up　while　the　thermal　effect　weakens.　Although　pulse　frequency　has　no　impact　on　the　wall-bounded　jet　topology,　the　body　force　increases　with　pulse　frequency　because　of　the　enhanced　energy　entrainment.　With　these　results,　four　parameters　that　affect　the　performance　of　pulsed-DC　DBD　are　extracted,　including　the　pulse　leading　edge,　pulse　width,　frequency,　and　amplitude,　which　lays　the　foundation　for　the　optimization　of　pulsed-DC　DBD.　©　2021　IOP　Publishing　Ltd