Drag measurements on V-grooved surfaces on a body of revolution in axial flow

In water flows with velocities of up to 9 m/s the friction drag of a body of revolution in axial flow was investigated for dependence on the body surface structure. This was done for different types of riblet film fixed on the surface with the riblet direction aligned with the flow. The lateral spacing between the triangular shaped riblets varied between 0.033 mm and 0.152 mm. In all cases the riblet spacing was equal to the riblet height. For comparison a smooth reference film was used.Depending on the Reynolds number and the non-dimensional riblet spacings ⁺, a turbulent drag reduction of up to 9% could be achieved with riblets in comparison with the flow over a smooth surface.In the region of transition to turbulent flow and with non-dimensional riblet spacings ofs ⁺10–15 drag reductions of up to 13% were obtained. It is therefore conjectured, that in addition to hampering the near wall momentum exchange, the riblets can delay the development of initial turbulent structures in time and space.     

Drag characteristics of longitudinal and transverse riblets at low dimensionless spacings

A surface grooved with microscopic riblets aligned parallel to the flow is an effective means to reduce the turbulent skin friction up to 10% compared to a smooth surface. The maximum drag reduction is found for a dimensionless rib spacing s ⁺ in the range of 15–17. For s ⁺ < 10, a linear behaviour of the drag reduction curve is predicted by viscous theory. This linear slope of the drag reduction curve is in contradiction to Schlichting’s postulation of a hydraulically smooth behaviour of small-scale roughness in a turbulent flow. This regime of evanescent dimensionless rib spacings is investigated experimentally by direct wall shear stress measurements in a fully developed channel flow. Additionally, a numerical calculation of the viscous flow over riblets was carried out to predict the drag reducing behaviour. The experimental results show a linear drag reducing behaviour down to s ⁺ = 0.3, which is in good agreement with the numerical results of the viscous simulation. The postulation of Schlichting’s hydraulically smooth regime of a rough surface was not confirmed, neither for a riblet surface nor for a surface geometry with grooves oriented perpendicular to the flow. In the latter case, the drag increases as a quadratic function of the roughness height.     

Riblet drag reduction in mild adverse pressure gradients: A numerical investigation

Riblet films are a passive method of turbulent boundary layer control that can reduce viscous drag. They have been studied with great detail for over 30 years. Although common riblet applications include flows with Adverse Pressure Gradients (APG), nearly all research thus far has been performed in channel flows. Recent research has provided motivation to study riblets in more complicated turbulent flows with claims that riblet drag reduction can double in mild APG common to airfoils at moderate angles of attack. Therefore, in this study, we compare drag reduction by scalloped riblet films between riblets in a zero pressure gradient and those in a mild APG using high-resolution large eddy simulations. In order to gain a fundamental understanding of the relationship between drag reduction and pressure gradient, we simulated several different riblet sizes that encompassed a broad range of s⁺ (riblet width in wall units), similarly to many previously published experimental studies. We found that there was only a slight improvement in drag reduction for riblets in the mild APG. We also observed that peak values of streamwise turbulence intensity, turbulent kinetic energy, and streamwise vorticity scale with riblet width. Primary Reynolds shear stresses and turbulence kinetic energy production however scale with the ability of the riblet to reduce skin-friction.     

Drag reduction in riblet-lined pipes

The possibilities of reducing the drag in pipes with a circular cross section by lining them with riblets have been investigated experimentally for developed turbulent air flow. The maximum drag reduction of 6–7% in the riblet-lined as compared with the smooth pipe was obtained for a dimensionless riblet pitch, expressed in law-of-the-wall parameters,s ⁺=14–18.Moscow. Translated from Izvestiya Rossiiskoi Akademii Nauk, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 1, pp. 57–61, January–February, 1995.     

Numerical and experimental investigation of the laminar boundary layer over riblets

One of the main aims of this work is to show to what extent drag reduction in a turbulent boundary layer can be ascribed to a purely viscous effect. A numerical and experimental study is performed in a laminar boundary layer over triangular riblets. The 2-D parabolic equations of motion are integrated using an x marching method and the discretised system is solved with the MSI algorithm. The influence of the riblet geometrical parameters and of the number of grid points is studied. Measurements are carried out in a water tunnel with forward scatter and backscatter laser-Doppler velocimetry extending within the riblets. The longitudinal velocity component measurements and computations are practically identical. Numerical results presented herein show that a slight drag reduction is obtained for s/h=1.2. It appears that, as far as friction is concerned, the wetted area is not the surface to be considered. Thus, the boundary layer over riblets would behave like a boundary layer on an equivalent smooth plate located beneath the crest plane. The numerical study in terms of the riblet height h shows best results are for h tending to zero, with the ratio s/h being equal to 1.2.     

FLOW STRUCTURE IN THE TURBULENT BOUNDARY LAYER OVER DIRECTIONAL RIBLETS SURFACES

本文采用时间解析的二维粒子图像测速技术,对零压力梯度光滑以及汇聚和发散沟槽表面平板湍流边界层统计特性和流动结构进行了研究.结果表明在垂直于汇聚和发散沟槽表面的对称平面内,相对于光滑壁面,发散沟槽壁面使当地边界层厚度、壁面摩擦阻力、湍流脉动、雷诺应力等明显减小;而汇聚沟槽壁面对湍流边界层特性和流动结构的影响正好相反,汇聚沟槽使壁面流体有远离壁面向上运动的趋势,因而导致边界层厚度增加了约43%;同时,在汇聚沟槽表面情况下流向大尺度相干结构更容易形成,这对减阻是不利的.此外,顺向涡数量在湍流边界层的对数区均存在一个极大值,发散沟槽表面所对应的极大值位置更靠近沟槽壁面,而在汇聚沟槽表面则有远离壁面的趋势,由顺向涡诱导产生的较强的喷射和扫掠运动会在湍流边界层中产生较强的剪切作用,顺向涡数量的减少是发散沟槽壁面当地摩擦阻力降低的主要原因.     

Effect of longitudinal riblets on the aerodynamic characteristics of a straight wing

The results of balance aerodynamic tests on model straight wings with smooth and ribbed surfaces at an angle of attack =–4°–12°, Mach number M=0.15–0.63, and Reynolds number Re=2.4·10⁶–3.5·10⁶ are discussed. The nondimensional riblet spacings ⁺, which determines the effect of the riblets on the turbulent friction drag, and the effect of riblets on the upper and/or lower surface of a straight wing on its drag, lift, and moment characteristics are estimated.Moscow. Translated from Izvestiya Rossiiskoi Akademii Nauk, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 2, pp. 33–38, March–April, 1995.     

Modelling the time-dependent flow over riblets in the viscous wall region

The flow over drag reducing riblets is examined computationally using a time-dependent model of the viscous wall region. The flow at the upper bound of the computational domain (y ⁺?40) is described using a streamwise eddy model consisting of two scales. A control-volume finite-element method utilizing triangular meshes is used to exactly fit the riblet cross-sectional geometry. Observations of the transient flow conditions suggest that the riblets limit the lateral spread of fluid inrushes towards the wall and retain low momentum fluid in the riblet valleys effectively isolating much of the wall from such inrushes. The generation of intermittent secondary vortices within the riblet valleys also occurs; however, these appear to be quite weak and fairly short-lived.     

Numerical Simulation of Riblet Controlled Spatial Transition in a Zero-Pressure-Gradient Boundary Layer

To analyze the fundamental physical mechanism which determines the damping effect of a riblet surface on three-dimensional transition several numerical simulations of spatial transition in a flat plate zero-pressure-gradient boundary layer above a riblet wall are performed in this study. Two types of forced transition scenarios are investigated. The first type of transition is defined by K-type transition induced by a dominant two-dimensional Tollmien–Schlichting (TS) wave and a weak spanwise disturbance. The second type of transition is purely excited by two oblique waves. By a qualitative analysis of the occurring maximum wall-normal and spanwise velocity components and the Fourier modes of the disturbances the two-dimensional TS waves are found to be amplified by riblets, whereas three-dimensional structures, i.e., Λ-, hairpin, and streamwisely aligned vortices, are damped. At oblique transition the breakdown to turbulence is delayed by the riblets compared to transition on a clean surface. The investigation of the near wall flow structure reveals secondary flows induced by the riblets and reduced wall normal ejections as well as a reduced downwash.     

Reynolds-number-dependence of the maximum in the streamwise velocity fluctuations in wall turbulence

A survey is made of the standard deviation of the streamwise velocity fluctuations in near-wall turbulence and in particular of the Reynolds-number-dependency of its peak value. The following canonical flow geometries are considered: an incompressible turbulent boundary layer under zero pressure gradient, a fully developed two-dimensional channel and a cylindrical pipe flow. Data were collected from 47 independent experimental and numerical studies, which cover a Reynolds number range of R _θ=U _∞ θ/v=300−20,920 for the boundary layer with θ the momentum thickness and R ⁺=u _*R/v=100-4,300 for the internal flows with R the pipe radius or the channel half-width. It is found that the peak value of the rms-value normalised by the friction velocity, u _*, is within statistical errors independent of the Reynolds number. The most probable value for this parameter was found to be 2.71±0.14 and 2.70±0.09 for the case of a boundary layer and an internal flow, respectively. The present survey also includes some data of the streamwise velocity fluctuations measured over a riblet surface. We find no significant difference in magnitude of the normalised peak value between the riblet and smooth surfaces and this property of the normalised peak value may for instance be exploited to estimate the wall shear stress from the streamwise velocity fluctuations. We also consider the skewness of the streamwise velocity fluctuations and find its value to be close to zero at the position where the variance has its peak value. This is explained with help of the equations of the third-order moment of velocity fluctuations. These results for the peak value of the rms of the streamwise velocity fluctuations and also the coincidence of this peak with the zero value of the third moment can be interpreted as confirmation of local equilibrium in the near-wall layer, which is the basis of inner-layer scaling. Furthermore, these results can be also used as a requirement which turbulence models for the second and triple velocity correlations should satisfy. The authors are indebted to Prof. P. Bradshaw for making available his list of references on this topic and for his remarks on “active” and “inactive” motions. We also gratefully acknowledge discussions with Prof. I. Castro regarding the value of σ _u ⁺ above rough walls.     

Drag reduction by polymer solutions in a riblet-lined pipe

The flow of 3 to 100 wppm aqueous solutions of a polyethyleneoxide polymer,M _w=6.2×;10⁶, was studied in a 10.2 mm i.d. pipe lined with 0.15 mm V-groove riblets, at diametral Reynolds numbers from 300 to 150000. Measurements in the riblet pipe were accompanied by simultaneous measurements in a smooth pipe of the same diameter placed in tandem. The chosen conditions provided turbulent drag reductions from zero to the asymptotic maximum possible. The onset of polymer-induced drag reduction in the riblet pipe occurred at the same wall shear stress, * _w =0.65 N/m², as that in the smooth pipe. After onset, the polymer solutions in the riblet pipe initially exhibited linear segments on Prandtl-Karman coordinates, akin to those seen in the smooth pipe, with specific slope increment . The maximum drag reduction observed in the riblet pipe was independent of polymer concentration and well below the asymptotic maximum drag reduction observed in the smooth pipe. Polymer solution flows in the riblet pipe exhibited three regimes: (i) Hydraulically smooth, in which riblets induced no drag reduction, amid varying, and considerable, polymer-induced drag reduction; this regime extended to non-dimensional riblet heightsh ⁺<5 in solvent andh ⁺<10 in polymer solutions. (ii) Riblet drag reduction, in which riblet-induced flow enhancementR>0; this regime extended from 5<h ⁺<22 in solvent and from 10<h ⁺<30 in the 3 wppm polymer solution, with respective maximaR=0.6 ath ⁺=14 andR=1.6 ath ⁺=21. Riblet drag reduction decreased with increasing polymer concentration and increasing polymer-induced flow enhancement S. (iii) Riblet drag enhancement, whereinR<0; this regime extended for 22<h ⁺<110 in solvent, withR;–2 forh ⁺>70, and was observed in all polymer solutions at highh ⁺, the more so as polymer-induced drag reduction increased, withR<0 for allS>8. The greatest drag enhancement in polymer solutions,R=–7±1 ath ⁺=55 whereS=20, considerably exceeded that in solvent. Three-dimensional representations of riblet- and polymer-induced drag reductions versus turbulent flow parameters revealed a hitherto unknown dome region, 8<h ⁺<31, 0<S<10, 0<R<1.5, containing a broad maximum at (h ⁺,S,R) = (18, 5, 1.5). The existence of a dome was physically interpreted to suggest that riblets and polymers reduce drag by separate mechanisms.     

Effects of riblet bends on pipe flows

Four riblet bends were tested to investigate the effects of riblets on pipe flows including the secondary flow on the Reynolds numbers; Re _D =6×10³–4×10⁴. The pressure gradients on the smooth pipe downstream from the riblet bends were measured, and also the pressure losses of the bends only were measured. All riblet bends reduced the pressure gradient on the smooth pipe downstream from them, which means a drag reduction. Two of the riblet bends showed the maximum drag reduction of about 4 percent at Re _D = 6500; this reduction rate was significant considering the uncertainty of the present experiments. Since the pressure losses of these two riblet bends were almost identical to that of the smooth bend at Re _D = 6500, they could cause a net drag reduction of about 4 percent on the piping system including these bends at that Reynolds number. Furthermore, the velocity profiles measured by LDV indicated that the secondary flow becomes weaker downstream from the riblet bends when a drag reduction is recognized there.Nomenclature D pipe diameter - D ₀ the distance from the valley to the valley passing through the pipe center - H height of groove - P nondimensional static pressure (p/it/(U ₀ ² ):p is gauge pressure) - dP/dX nondimensional pressure gradient - Rc curvature of bend - Re _D Reynolds number based on bulk velocity and pipe diameter - s spacing of groove - U mean streamwise velocity along the horizontal diameter - U ₀ bulk velocity - V mean vertical velocity along the horizontal diameter - x streamwise direction along the pipe axis (see Fig. 1) - X nondimensionalx (=x/D) - y radial direction in the horizontal plane which is perpendicular to the plane including the bend (see Fig. 1) - yUV swirl intensity (nondimensional swirl intensity:yUV/(DU ₀ ² ))     

Modelling the time dependent flow over riblets in the viscous wall region

The flow over riblets is examined computationally using a time dependent model of the viscous wall region. This 2 1/2 D model, developed by Hatziavramidis and Hanratty (1979) and modified by Nikolaides (1984) and Chapman and Kuhn (1981, 1986) assumes homogeneity in the streamwise direction so that the flow is solved only in the cross-sectional plane. The flow at the upper boundary of the computational domain (y ⁺ 40) is described using a streamwise eddy model consisting of two scales, one of the streak spacing (⁺ 100), which dominates vertical momentum transport, and a larger scale that accounts for the influence of large outer flow eddies.The protrusion height concept (Bechert and Bartenwerfer, 1989) is used to define ay ⁺=0 location for surfaces with riblets. A control volume finite element method utilizing triangular meshes is used to exactly fit the riblet cross-sectional geometry. Results obtained using fairly large riblets compare well with the limited experimental evidence available. Observations of the transient flow suggest that the riblets interact with the near-wall streamwise vortices, weakening them by the generation of intermittent secondary vortices within the riblet valleys. The riblets also appear to limit the lateral spread of inrushes towards the wall and retain low momentum fluid in the riblet valleys effectively isolating much of the wall from such inrushes.     

固体颗粒对沟槽湍流边界层影响的实验研究

本文采用粒子图像测速技术(particles image velocimetry, PIV)研究固体颗粒对放置在平板湍流边界层中的平壁和沟槽壁面减阻效果的影响. 实验对清水和加入粒径为155 μm聚苯乙烯颗粒的流法向二维速度场信息进行采集, 对不同工况下的平均速度剖面、雷诺应力和湍流度等统计量进行对比, 分析流体在边界层中的行为. 运用空间局部平均结构函数提取了不同工况湍流边界层喷射?扫掠行为的空间拓扑结构并进行比较. 结果发现, 在不同的壁面条件下, 粒子加入后的对数律区中无量纲速度均略大于清水组, 雷诺切应力有所降低, 湍流度有所减弱. 对于不同流场速度下的沟槽而言, 颗粒的加入均降低了壁面附近的阻力, 而颗粒单独作用于光滑壁面的减阻效果并不明显. 加入粒子后的相干结构数目有所增加, 法向脉动速度下降. 沟槽壁面附近的相干结构数目有所增加, 法向脉动速度在自由来流速度较大时有所上升, 在速度较小时有所下降. 这表明不同减阻状况下的沟槽均能将大涡破碎成更多的涡, 并且粒子的加入强化了这种破碎作用.      

On near-wall hot-wire measurements

A specially constructed hot-wire probe was used to obtain very near-wall velocity measurements in both a fully developed turbulent channel flow and flat plate boundary layer flow. The near-wall hot-wire probe, having been calibrated in a specially constructed laminar flow calibration rig, was used to measure the mean streamwise velocity profile, distributions of streamwise and spanwise intensities of turbulence and turbulence kinetic energy k in the viscous sublayer and beyond; these distributions compare very favorably with available DNS results obtained for channel flow. While low Reynolds number effects were clearly evident for the channel flow, these effects are much less distinct for the boundary layer flow. By assuming the dissipating range of eddy sizes to be statistically isotropic and the validity of Taylor's hypothesis, the dissipation rate ɛ _iso in the very near-wall viscous sublayer region and beyond was determined for both the channel and boundary layer flows. It was found that if the convective velocity U _c in Taylor's hypothesis was assumed to be equal to the mean velocity Uˉ at the point of measurement, the value of (ɛ⁺ _iso)₁ thus obtained agrees well with that of (ɛ ⁺)_DNS for y ⁺ ≥ 80 for channel flow; this suggests the validity of assuming U _c=Uˉ and local isotropy for large values of y ⁺. However, if U _c was assumed to be 10.6u _τ , the value of (ɛ⁺ _iso)₂ thus obtained was found to compare reasonably well with the distribution of (ɛ⁺ _iso)_DNS for y ⁺≤ 15. Received: 31 May 1999/Accepted: 20 December 1999     

Drag characteristics of a turbulent boundary layer over a flat plate with transverse square grooves

 The effect of transverse square grooves on the drag characteristics of a flat plate has been investigated using direct drag measurements in a tow tank. Two flat plates with 2.5 and 5 mm transverse square grooves, with groove spacing (s) to groove width (w) ratio, s/w=10, 20 and 40, were tested at plate length Reynolds numbers in the range 2–10×10⁶. There is an increase in drag over the “smooth” plate for all s/w configurations. Received: 31 December 1997/Accepted: 4 April 1998     

The effect of riblets on laminar to turbulent transition

Experiments conducted on the effect of riblets on the laminar-to-turbulent transition of a flat plate in a water tunnel are reported. Transition was determined using a Laser Doppler Velocimeter (LDV). A smooth reference surface was compared to five riblet surfaces for a range of Reynolds numbers. Smooth surface transition Reynolds number was about 2.75 × 10⁶. All of the five tested riblet surfaces had lower transition Reynolds numbers. A critical roughness Reynolds number of about 6 was determined for one of the riblet surfaces. This is much lower than the generally accepted value of 25, considered safe for distributed roughness.     

Large-scale spanwise periodicity in a turbulent boundary layer induced by highly ordered and directional surface roughness

The effect of converging–diverging riblet-type surface roughness (riblets arranged in a ‘herringbone’ pattern) are investigated experimentally in a zero pressure gradient turbulent boundary layer. For this initial parametric investigation three different parameters of the surface roughness are analysed in detail; the converging–diverging riblet yaw angle α, the streamwise fetch or development length over the rough surface F_x and the viscous-scaled riblet height h⁺. It is observed that this highly directional surface roughness pattern induces a large-scale spanwise periodicity onto the boundary layer, resulting in a pronounced spanwise modification of the boundary layer thickness. Hot-wire measurements reveal that above the diverging region, the local mean velocity increases while the turbulent intensity decreases, resulting in a thinner overall boundary layer thickness in these locations. The opposite situation occurs over the converging region, where the local mean velocity is decreased and the turbulent intensity increases, producing a locally thicker boundary layer. Increasing the converging–diverging angle or the viscous-scaled riblet height results in stronger spanwise perturbations. For the strongest convergent–divergent angle, the spanwise variation of the boundary layer thickness between the diverging and converging region is almost a factor of two. Such a large variation is remarkable considering that the riblet height is only 1% of the unperturbed boundary layer thickness. Increasing the fetch seems to cause the perturbations to grow further from the surface, while the overall strength of the induced high and low speed regions remain relatively unaltered. Further analysis of the pre-multiplied energy spectra suggests that the surface roughness has modified or redistributed the largest scale energetic structures.     

Flow over convergent and divergent wall riblets

Fast swimming sharks have small riblets on their skin, which are assumed to improve the swimming performance of the fish. Fluid dynamic experiments in water as well as in air confirm this assumption. With riblet surfaces as compared to smooth surfaces, drag reductions up to about 10% were measured. The overall riblet pattern on sharks shows parallel riblets directed from head to tail, but besides this overall pattern fast swimming sharks have also small areas with converging riblets and others with diverging riblets. In the present study the velocity field over convergent and divergent riblet patterns is investigated by hot-wire measurements in turbulent pipe flow. Significant changes in the near wall velocity field were found.     

Combined effect of longitudinal riblets and LEBU-devices on turbulent friction on a plate

The possibility of reducing turbulent friction with the help of large-eddy-breakup devices (LEBUs) and riblets is studied experimentally. The tests were conducted in a low-turbulence wind tunnel on a flat plate for 2·10⁶ Re 7·10⁶. The local friction coefficient was measured using internal strain-gauge balances, and the total drag was estimated by the momentum-transfer method. It is shown that a combination of LEBUs and riblets makes it possible to reduce the total turbulent friction drag of a flat plate 1800 mm long by 16%. The effects of the length of a ribbed surface on the efficiency of friction reduction and of LEBUs and riblets on the structure of a turbulent boundary layer are analyzed.Translated from Izvestiya Rossiiskoi Akademii Nauk, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 3, pp. 39–46, May–June, 1995.