Shark Skin—An Inspiration for the Development of a Novel and Simple Biomimetic Turbulent Drag Reduction Topology

Shaotao Fan, Xiangxi Han (), Youhong Tang, Yiwen Wang and Xiangshao Kong
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Shaotao Fan: School of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Energy Power Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430063, China
Xiangxi Han: Guangxi Key Laboratory of Ocean Engineering Equipment and Technology, Beibu Gulf University, Qinzhou 535000, China
Youhong Tang: College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide 5042, Australia
Yiwen Wang: Green & Smart River-Sea-Going Ship, Cruise and Yacht Research Center, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430063, China
Xiangshao Kong: Green & Smart River-Sea-Going Ship, Cruise and Yacht Research Center, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430063, China

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 24, 1-20

Abstract: In this study, a novel but simple biomimetic turbulent drag reduction topology is proposed, inspired by the special structure of shark skin. Two effective, shark skin-inspired, ribletted surfaces were designed, their topologies were optimized, and their excellent drag reduction performances were verified by large eddy simulation. The designed riblets showed higher turbulent drag reduction behavior, e.g., 21.45% at Re = 40,459, compared with other experimental and simulated reports. The effects of the riblets on the behavior of the fluid flow in pipes are discussed, as well as the mechanisms of fluid drag in turbulent flow and riblet drag reduction. Riblets of various dimensions were analyzed and the nature of fluid flow over the effective shark skin surface is illustrated. By setting up the effective ribletted surface on structure’s surface, the shark skin-inspired, biomimetic, ribletted surface effectively reduced friction resistance without external energy support. This method is therefore regarded as the most promising drag reduction technique.

Keywords: shark skin; riblets; turbulent drag reduction; biomimetic; pipe flow (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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