Application of V Shape Riblets to Pipe Flows

Abstract

Pipes with V shape riblets were tested at Reynolds numbers between 5×103 and 4×104. All riblet pipes indicated some drag reduction. The model with h = 0.55 mm and h/S = 0.483 showed the maximum drag reduction of 8 percent and the widest range of Reynolds number over which the riblet reduces drag. The riblet shape desirable for drag reduction in pipe flows was almost the same as that in flat plate boundary layers, but the value of S+ which provided the maximum drag reduction was quite different; S+ = 23 for pipe flows and S+ = 12 for flat plate boundary layers.