Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-s2hrs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-07T07:26:50.437Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The prediction of riblet behaviour with a low-Reynolds number k-ε model

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 July 2016

B.E. Launder  and
S-P. Li
B.E. Launder
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Thermodynamics and Fluids Division, UMIST
S-P. Li
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Thermodynamics and Fluids Division, UMIST
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The paper reports the first computational explorations of the flow in the vicinity of riblets with a two-equation turbulence model. For simplicity fully developed flow in a plane channel is considered though the results should be applicable to boundary-layer flow, as the riblets are confined within the (virtually) constantstress near-wall sublayer. The study of idealised L-shaped (or blade) riblets showed larger levels of drag reduction (up to 22%) than have hitherto been reported. When the usual triangular-profile riblets were considered, however, the maximum drag reduction was reduced to about 10%, in line with experiment.

Although the maximum drag reduction is well predicted, there are serious differences from experiment for the values of h+ at which the optimum performance is achieved. Moreover, the computations suggest that at low Re for h+ < 10, drag increases result. These anomalies highlight two distinct and counteracting weaknesses in the model of turbulence: there is an insufficient sensitivity of the equation to three-dimensional straining in the jow-Reynolds-number region while use of an isotropic viscosity model enforces zero secondary circulation in the vicinity of the riblets.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Aeronautical Journal , Volume 96 , Issue 959 , November 1992 , pp. 351 - 355
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 1992 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Walsh, M.J. and Weinstein, L.M. Drag and heat transfer characteristics of small, longitudinally ribbed surfaces, AlAA J, 1979, 17, (770).Google Scholar
2. Walsh, M.J. Turbulent boundary layer drag reduction using riblets, AIAA Paper 82-0169, 1982. 3. Wilkinson, S.P., Anders, J.B., Lazos, B.S. and Bushnell, D.M. Turbulent drag reduction research at NASA Langley: progress and plans, Int J Heat Fluid Flow, 1988, 9, (286).Google Scholar
4. Wilkinson, S.P. and Lazos, B.S. Direct drag and hot-wire measurements on thin-element riblet arrays, IUTAM Symposium on Turbulence Management and Relaminarisation, Bangalore, 1987.Google Scholar
5. Walsh, M.J. Optimization and application of riblets for turbulent drag reduction, AIAA Paper 84-0347, 1984.Google Scholar
6. Coustols, E., Cousteix, J. and Belanger, J. Drag reduction performance on riblet surfaces and through outer layer manipulators, Proceedings of the Symposium Turbulent Drag Reduction by Passive Means, Royal Aeronautical Society, London, September 1987.Google Scholar
7. Sawyer, W.G. and Winter, K.G. An investigation of the effect on turbulent skin friction of surfaces with streamwise grooves, Proceedings of the Symposium Turbulent Drag Reduction by Passive Means, Royal Aeronautical Society, London, September 1987.Google Scholar
8. Launder, B.E. and Sharma, B.I. Application of the energy-dissipation model of turbulence to the calculation of flow near a spinning disc, Letters in Heat Mass Trans, 1974,1, (131).Google Scholar
9. Savill, A.M. Turbulence Model Predictions for Transition Under Freestream Turbulence, unpublished report, Engineering Department, University of Cambridge, 1991. (Also poster paper for Royal Aeronautical Society, Transition and Boundary Layer Conference, Cambridge, April 1991).Google Scholar
10. Khan, M.M.S. A numerical investigation of the drag reduction by riblet surfaces, AIAA Paper 86-1127, 1986.Google Scholar
11. Launder, B.E. and Ying, W-M. Prediction of flow and heat transfer in ducts of square cross-section, Proc Inst Mech Eng, 1973, 187, (37/73), pp 455.Google Scholar
12. Benhalilou, M., Anselmet, F., Liandrat, J., and Fulachier, L., Experiments and numerical investigation of a turbulent boundary layer over riblets, Proceedings of the 8th Symposium on Turbulent Shear Flows, Paper 18-5, Munich, 1991.Google Scholar
13. CHIEN, K-Y. Predictions of channel and boundary-layer flows with a low-Reynolds-number turbulence model, AIAA J, 1982, 20, (33).Google Scholar
14. Lam, CK.G. and Bremhorst, K.A. Modified form of the k-e model for predicting wall turbulenceJ Fluids Eng, 1981,103, (456).Google Scholar
15. Jones, W.P. and Launder, B.E. The prediction of laminarisation with a two-equation model of turbulence, Int J Heat Mass Trans, 1972,15, (301).Google Scholar
16. Huang, P.G. and Leschziner, M.A. An Introduction and Guide to the Computer Code TEAM, UMIST Mech Eng Dept Report TFD/83/9 (R), 1983.Google Scholar
17. Leschziner, M.A., Kadja, M. and Lea, C. A combined experimental and computational study of a separated flow in an expanding annular passage, In: Refined Flow Modelling and Turbulence Measurements, Iwasa, Y., Tamai, N. and Wada, A.(Eds.), Universal Academic Press, Tokyo, 1988.Google Scholar
18. Demuren, A.O. and Rodi, W. Calculation of turbulence-driven secondary motion in non-circular ducts, J Fluid Mech, 1984, 140, (189).Google Scholar
19. Launder, B.E. and Shima, N. A second-moment closure for the near-wall sublayer development and application, AIAA J, 1989, 27, (1319).Google Scholar
20. Launder, B.E. and Li, S-P. A numerical study of riblet effects on laminar flow through a plane channel, App Scien Res, 1989, 46, (271).Google Scholar