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Microbubble drag reduction in rough walled turbulent boundary layers with comparison against polymer drag reduction

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Abstract

Experiments were conducted in the 12-inch diameter tunnel at the Applied Research Laboratory, Pennsylvania State University using the tunnel wall boundary layer to determine the influence of surface roughness on microbubble drag reduction. To accomplish this, carbon dioxide was injected through a slot at rates of 0.001 m3/s to 0.011 m3/s, and the resulting skin friction drag measured on a 317.5-mm long by 152.4-mm span balance. In addition to the hydrodynamically smooth balance plate, additional plates were covered with roughly 75, 150, and 300 micron grit. Over the speed range tested of 7.6, 10.7, and 13.7 m/s, the roughness ranged from smooth to fully rough. Not only was microbubble drag reduction achieved over the rough surfaces, but the % drag reduction at a given gas flow rate was larger for larger roughness. Scaling of the data is discussed. Comparison against results of a polymer drag reduction experiment, using the same facility, is made. Finally, a measure of the expected persistence of the phenomenon is given.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) N00014-02-1-0574, with Dr. Pat Purtell as the technical monitor.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Applied Research Laboratory, Pennsylvania State University, State College, P.O. Box 30, PA, 16804, USA

    S. Deutsch, M. Moeny, A. A. Fontaine & H. Petrie

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  1. S. Deutsch
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  2. M. Moeny
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  3. A. A. Fontaine
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  4. H. Petrie
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Correspondence to S. Deutsch.

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Deutsch, S., Moeny, M., Fontaine, A.A. et al. Microbubble drag reduction in rough walled turbulent boundary layers with comparison against polymer drag reduction. Exp Fluids 37, 731–744 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-004-0863-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-004-0863-6

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