Study of riblet drag reduction for an infinite span wing with different sweep angles

Abstract

This paper studies the riblet drag reduction effect for an infinite swept wing under a low Reynolds number using a large-eddy simulation. The results show that the drag reduction ratio is not linear under different sweep angles. The maximum drag reduction ratio in this study is 9.5% for a wing with a 45° sweep angle. The local surface streamline angle and turbulence quantities are calculated to analyze the drag reduction mechanism. The results demonstrate that the riblets considerably suppress the Reynolds stresses above the wing upper surface, while the turbulence kinetic energy in the near wake is increased. A possible relaminarization phenomenon is observed at the middle part of the wing. Quasi-two-dimensional flow structures are observed near the wall, and a peak frequency is considered as the dominant frequency of the region.