An energy-efficient pathway to turbulent drag reduction

Authors: Ivan Marusic, Dileep Chandran, Amirreza Rouhi, Matt K. Fu, David Wine, Brian Holloway, Daniel Chung, Alexander J. Smits

Published: 2021-10-04

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26128-8

Source: Full article


Abstract

AbstractSimulations and experiments at low Reynolds numbers have suggested that skin-friction drag generated by turbulent fluid flow over a surface can be decreased by oscillatory motion in the surface, with the amount of drag reduction predicted to decline with increasing Reynolds number. Here, we report direct measurements of substantial drag reduction achieved by using spanwise surface oscillations at high friction Reynolds numbers ($${{{\mathrm{Re}}}_{\tau }}$$