Biomimetic Design Inspired Sharkskin Denticles and Modeling of Diffuser for Fluid Control

Abstract

While sharkskin surface roughness has been hypothesized but remains yet controversial to be capable of achieving turbulent flow control and drag reduction, sharkskin-inspired “riblets” have been reported to be an effective biomimetic design (BMD). Here we address an integrated study of biomimetic riblets inspired by sharkskin denticles by 3D digitizing. Diffuser vanes with BMD sructures were fabricated using the precision cutting and BMD diffusers were assembled. Diffuser’s fluid control was evaluated to confirm the effect of the BMD on fluid control. Our results indicate that the morphological feature in sharkskin denticles likely play a critical role in passively controlling local turbulent flow and points to the potential of denticle-inspired biomimetic riblets for turbulent-flow control in aquatic vehicles as well as other fluid machinery.