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The Effect of Shark Skin Inspired Riblet Geometries on Drag in Rectangular Duct Flow

Dean, Brian D.

Abstract Details

2011, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Mechanical Engineering.
The skin of fast swimming sharks exhibits riblet structures aligned in the direction of flow which are known to reduce skin friction drag in the turbulent flow regime. Structures have been fabricated for study and application which replicate and improve upon the natural shape of the shark skin riblets, providing a maximum drag reduction of nearly 10%. Mechanisms of fluid drag in turbulent flow and riblet-drag reduction theories from experiment and simulation are discussed, a review of riblet performance studies performed is given, and optimal riblet geometries for external flow are defined. A survey of studies experimenting with riblet-topped shark scale replicas is also given. A method for selecting optimal riblet dimensions based on fluid flow characteristics is detailed, and current manufacturing techniques are outlined. The effects of mucus and hydrophobicity are presented. A flow cell has been designed for studying riblet effects in internal rectangular duct flow and is discussed. Data collected using several riblet surfaces fabricated for the flow cell is presented and analyzed. A discussion of the effects of the riblets on fluid flow is given, and conclusions are drawn about the possible benefits of riblets in internal fluid flow.
Bharat Bhushan (Advisor)
Shaurya Prakash (Committee Member)
73 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Dean, B. D. (2011). The Effect of Shark Skin Inspired Riblet Geometries on Drag in Rectangular Duct Flow [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1311874211

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Dean, Brian. The Effect of Shark Skin Inspired Riblet Geometries on Drag in Rectangular Duct Flow. 2011. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1311874211.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Dean, Brian. "The Effect of Shark Skin Inspired Riblet Geometries on Drag in Rectangular Duct Flow." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1311874211

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)