Skin friction drag reduction in turbulent flow using spanwise traveling surface waves

Patrick F. Musgrave; Pablo A. Tarazaga

doi:10.1117/12.2260295

11 April 2017 Skin friction drag reduction in turbulent flow using spanwise traveling surface waves

Patrick F. Musgrave, Pablo A. Tarazaga

Proceedings Volume 10164, Active and Passive Smart Structures and Integrated Systems 2017; 101640L (2017) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2260295
Event: SPIE Smart Structures and Materials + Nondestructive Evaluation and Health Monitoring, 2017, Portland, Oregon, United States

Abstract

A major technological driver in current aircraft and other vehicles is the improvement of fuel efficiency. One way to increase the efficiency is to reduce the skin friction drag on these vehicles. This experimental study presents an active drag reduction technique which decreases the skin friction using spanwise traveling waves. A novel method is introduced for generating traveling waves which is low-profile, non-intrusive, and operates under various flow conditions. This wave generation method is discussed and the resulting traveling waves are presented. These waves are then tested in a low-speed wind tunnel to determine their drag reduction potential. To calculate the drag reduction, the momentum integral method is applied to turbulent boundary layer data collected using a pitot tube and traversing system. The skin friction coefficients are then calculated and the drag reduction determined. Preliminary results yielded a drag reduction of ≈ 5% for 244Hz traveling waves. Thus, this novel wave generation method possesses the potential to yield an easily implementable, non-invasive drag reduction technology.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Patrick F. Musgrave and Pablo A. Tarazaga "Skin friction drag reduction in turbulent flow using spanwise traveling surface waves", Proc. SPIE 10164, Active and Passive Smart Structures and Integrated Systems 2017, 101640L (11 April 2017); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2260295

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available