On the Turbulent Drag Reduction Effect of the Dynamic Free-Slip Surface Method

The turbulent boundary layer (TBL) over the hull surface of a water vehicle significantly elevates the drag force on the water vehicle. In this regard, effectively controlling the TBL can lead to a drag reduction (DR) effect and therefore improve the energy efficiency of water transportation. Many D...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Cong Wang, Morteza Gharib
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-06-01
Series:Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/10/7/879
_version_ 1827596910088683520
author Cong Wang
Morteza Gharib
author_facet Cong Wang
Morteza Gharib
author_sort Cong Wang
collection DOAJ
description The turbulent boundary layer (TBL) over the hull surface of a water vehicle significantly elevates the drag force on the water vehicle. In this regard, effectively controlling the TBL can lead to a drag reduction (DR) effect and therefore improve the energy efficiency of water transportation. Many DR methods have demonstrated promising DR effects but face challenges in implementation at the scale of engineering application. In this regard, the recently developed dynamic free-slip surface method can resolve some of the critical challenges. It employs an array of freely oscillating air–water interfaces to manipulate the TBL and can achieve a substantial DR effect under certain control conditions. However, the optimal setting of the control parameters that would maximize the DR effect remains unclear. To answer these questions, this study systematically investigates the effects of multiple control parameters for the first time, including the geometric size and curvature of the interface, the frequency of active oscillation, and the Reynolds number of TBL. Digital Particle Image Velocimetry was used to non-invasively measure the velocity and vorticity field of the TBL, and the Charted Clauser method was used to calculate the DR effect. The presented results suggest that the oscillating free-slip interfaces reduce the flow velocity near the wall boundary and lift the transverse vorticity (and the viscous shear stress) away from the wall. In addition, the shape factor of the TBL is elevated by the oscillating interfaces and slowly relaxes back in the downstream regions, which implies a partial relaminarization process induced in the TBL. Up to 36% DR effect was achieved within the current scope range of the control parameters. All of the results consistently suggest that a large DR effect is achieved when the free-slip interfaces oscillate with large Weber numbers. These discoveries shed light on the underlying DR mechanism and provide guidance for the future development of an effective drag control technique based on the dynamic free-slip surface method.
first_indexed 2024-03-09T03:18:12Z
format Article
id doaj.art-ae0e18c5d715482ab42e1e559bacd96c
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2077-1312
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-09T03:18:12Z
publishDate 2022-06-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
spelling doaj.art-ae0e18c5d715482ab42e1e559bacd96c2023-12-03T15:14:41ZengMDPI AGJournal of Marine Science and Engineering2077-13122022-06-0110787910.3390/jmse10070879On the Turbulent Drag Reduction Effect of the Dynamic Free-Slip Surface MethodCong Wang0Morteza Gharib1Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, 1200 E California Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91125, USADivision of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, 1200 E California Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91125, USAThe turbulent boundary layer (TBL) over the hull surface of a water vehicle significantly elevates the drag force on the water vehicle. In this regard, effectively controlling the TBL can lead to a drag reduction (DR) effect and therefore improve the energy efficiency of water transportation. Many DR methods have demonstrated promising DR effects but face challenges in implementation at the scale of engineering application. In this regard, the recently developed dynamic free-slip surface method can resolve some of the critical challenges. It employs an array of freely oscillating air–water interfaces to manipulate the TBL and can achieve a substantial DR effect under certain control conditions. However, the optimal setting of the control parameters that would maximize the DR effect remains unclear. To answer these questions, this study systematically investigates the effects of multiple control parameters for the first time, including the geometric size and curvature of the interface, the frequency of active oscillation, and the Reynolds number of TBL. Digital Particle Image Velocimetry was used to non-invasively measure the velocity and vorticity field of the TBL, and the Charted Clauser method was used to calculate the DR effect. The presented results suggest that the oscillating free-slip interfaces reduce the flow velocity near the wall boundary and lift the transverse vorticity (and the viscous shear stress) away from the wall. In addition, the shape factor of the TBL is elevated by the oscillating interfaces and slowly relaxes back in the downstream regions, which implies a partial relaminarization process induced in the TBL. Up to 36% DR effect was achieved within the current scope range of the control parameters. All of the results consistently suggest that a large DR effect is achieved when the free-slip interfaces oscillate with large Weber numbers. These discoveries shed light on the underlying DR mechanism and provide guidance for the future development of an effective drag control technique based on the dynamic free-slip surface method.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/10/7/879turbulent boundary layer controldrag reductionmulti-phase flow
spellingShingle Cong Wang
Morteza Gharib
On the Turbulent Drag Reduction Effect of the Dynamic Free-Slip Surface Method
Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
turbulent boundary layer control
drag reduction
multi-phase flow
title On the Turbulent Drag Reduction Effect of the Dynamic Free-Slip Surface Method
title_full On the Turbulent Drag Reduction Effect of the Dynamic Free-Slip Surface Method
title_fullStr On the Turbulent Drag Reduction Effect of the Dynamic Free-Slip Surface Method
title_full_unstemmed On the Turbulent Drag Reduction Effect of the Dynamic Free-Slip Surface Method
title_short On the Turbulent Drag Reduction Effect of the Dynamic Free-Slip Surface Method
title_sort on the turbulent drag reduction effect of the dynamic free slip surface method
topic turbulent boundary layer control
drag reduction
multi-phase flow
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/10/7/879
work_keys_str_mv AT congwang ontheturbulentdragreductioneffectofthedynamicfreeslipsurfacemethod
AT mortezagharib ontheturbulentdragreductioneffectofthedynamicfreeslipsurfacemethod