Turbulence Measurements in Channel Flows With Rough and Hydrophobic Walls

Abstract

Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) measurements were made in a fully-developed turbulent channel flow. The channel test section was 1 ft wide and 1 inch in height and was constructed out of plexiglass. One wall of the test section was made removable. Four walls were used: a plexiglass smooth wall, and three hydrophobic walls: (i) a lotus paint coated plexiglass wall, (ii) a treated aluminum sheet attached to the plexiglass wall and (iii) a treated rough surface attached to the plexiglass wall. The bulk velocity was held constant to yield a Reynolds number (based on the channel half-height) of 5,500. Several images were averaged to obtain mean velocity and Reynolds shear stress and turbulence kinetic energy measurements. It was found that the mean velocities in the near-wall region were higher for the lotus-paint coated surface flow and the treated rough surface flow than the flows with the other two surfaces. The friction velocity estimated from the Reynolds shear stress measurements was significantly lower for these two flows as well. The reduction in the wall shear stress in these flows is attributed to the finite slip that occurs at the hydrophobic surfaces.