AVS 57th International Symposium & Exhibition
    MEMS and NEMS Thursday Sessions
       Session MN-ThP

Paper MN-ThP7
Biomimetic Application of Localized Hydrophobicity for Increased Drag Reduction Performance on Shark Skin-Inspired Riblet Surfaces

Thursday, October 21, 2010, 6:00 pm, Room Southwest Exhibit Hall

Session: MEMS and NEMS Poster Session
Presenter: B. Dean, The Ohio State University
Authors: B. Dean, The Ohio State University
B. Bhushan, The Ohio State University
Correspondent: Click to Email
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. Fish secrete mucus through their skin which greatly reduces drag during swimming. Small amounts of mucus have been seen on the scales and riblets of fast swimming sharks, which affect the near-skin flow properties in some way. The drag reduction effect of this trace amount of mucus on the surface of the shark skin is approximated by the slip length present in water flowing over a hydrophobic surface. A biomimetic study is done in which the drag reduction benefit of localized and non-localized hydrophobic surface applications onto drag reducing riblet structures are studied. The combined effect of turbulent drag reduction by localized or non-localized hydrophobicity and by riblet mechanisms is presented.