The virtual origin of riblets in an open channel flow

In this paper, a method using the mean velocity profiles for the buffer layer was developed for the estimation of the virtual origin over a riblets surface in an open channel flow. First, the standardized profiles of the mixing length were estimated from the velocity measurement in the inner layer, and the location of the edge of the viscous layer was obtained. Then, the virtual origins were estimated by the best match between the measured velocity profile and the equations of the velocity profile derived from the mixing length profiles. It was made clear that the virtual origin and the thickness of the viscous layer are the function of the roughness Reynolds number. The drag variation coincided well with other results.Nomenclature f _r skin friction coefficient - f _ro skin friction coefficient in smooth channel at the same flow quantity and the same energy slope - g gravity acceleration - H water depth from virtual origin to water surface - H ⁺ u*H/ - H false water depth from top of riblets to water surface - H ⁺ u*H/ - I _e streamwise energy slope - I _b bed slope - k riblet height - k ⁺ u*k/ - l mixing length - l _s standardized mixing length - Q flow quantity - Re Reynolds number volume flow/unit width/v - s riblet spacing - u mean velocity - u* friction velocity = - u* false friction velocity = - y distance from virtual origin - y distance from top of riblet - y ₀ distance from top of riblet to virtual origin - y _v distance from top of riblet to edge of viscous layer - y ⁺ u*y/ - y ⁺ u*y/ - y ₀ ⁺ u*y ₀/ - u ⁺ u*y/ - shifting coefficient for standardization - thickness of viscous layer=y ₀+y - ⁺ u*/ - ⁺ u*/ - eddy viscosity - ridge angle - v kinematic viscosity - density - shear stress