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An investigation into the effect of longitudinal micro-striations and their profiles, on the drag of flat plates

This report describes an investigation into the use of streamwise-machined grooves as a means of reducing the drag force experienced by a flat plate. V-grooves of specific dimensions are machined onto the surface of a smooth plate, in a streamwise direction. The effect of these surface modifications...

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Main Author: Parker, Kamalluddien
Other Authors: Sayers, A T
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: Department of Mechanical Engineering 2016
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access_status_str Open Access
author Parker, Kamalluddien
author2 Sayers, A T
author_browse Parker, Kamalluddien
Sayers, A T
author_facet Sayers, A T
Parker, Kamalluddien
author_sort Parker, Kamalluddien
collection Thesis
description This report describes an investigation into the use of streamwise-machined grooves as a means of reducing the drag force experienced by a flat plate. V-grooves of specific dimensions are machined onto the surface of a smooth plate, in a streamwise direction. The effect of these surface modifications on the drag force of a smooth plate is examined. The use of surface modifications as a means of reducing viscous drag on a body has potential aerodynamic and hydrodynamic applications. The idea that a longitudinally grooved surface ("riblets") could reduce the turbulent skin friction developed in part from the concept that the scales of fast-swimming sharks may have a surface structure that improves boundary-layer performance. Previously conducted experiments show that v-grooves parallel to the airflow reduce drag by 4 to 7 percent. Reduced aerodynamic drag in aircraft for example, translates into reduced engine power required to overcome the drag and ultimately to lower fuel consumption. The initial part of this thesis, which dealt with the assimilation of information regarding previous riblet research, indicated that riblets with av-groove or triangular geometry had shown the greatest potential for use as a drag reducing mechanism. The experimental part of this thesis explores two possible riblet geometries. The performance of a symmetric and unsymmetrical v-groove pattern is investigated.
format Thesis
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institution University of Cape Town (South Africa)
language eng
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:31:48.735Z
license_str Not specified — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository
publishDate 2016
publishDateRange 2016
publishDateSort 2016
publisher Department of Mechanical Engineering
publisherStr Department of Mechanical Engineering
record_format dspace
source_str UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository
spelling oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/19815 An investigation into the effect of longitudinal micro-striations and their profiles, on the drag of flat plates Parker, Kamalluddien Sayers, A T Mechanical Engineering This report describes an investigation into the use of streamwise-machined grooves as a means of reducing the drag force experienced by a flat plate. V-grooves of specific dimensions are machined onto the surface of a smooth plate, in a streamwise direction. The effect of these surface modifications on the drag force of a smooth plate is examined. The use of surface modifications as a means of reducing viscous drag on a body has potential aerodynamic and hydrodynamic applications. The idea that a longitudinally grooved surface ("riblets") could reduce the turbulent skin friction developed in part from the concept that the scales of fast-swimming sharks may have a surface structure that improves boundary-layer performance. Previously conducted experiments show that v-grooves parallel to the airflow reduce drag by 4 to 7 percent. Reduced aerodynamic drag in aircraft for example, translates into reduced engine power required to overcome the drag and ultimately to lower fuel consumption. The initial part of this thesis, which dealt with the assimilation of information regarding previous riblet research, indicated that riblets with av-groove or triangular geometry had shown the greatest potential for use as a drag reducing mechanism. The experimental part of this thesis explores two possible riblet geometries. The performance of a symmetric and unsymmetrical v-groove pattern is investigated. 2016-05-24T09:14:13Z 2016-05-24T09:14:13Z 1997 Master Thesis Masters MSc (Eng) http://hdl.handle.net/11427/19815 eng application/pdf Department of Mechanical Engineering Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment University of Cape Town
spellingShingle Mechanical Engineering
Parker, Kamalluddien
An investigation into the effect of longitudinal micro-striations and their profiles, on the drag of flat plates
thesis_degree_str Master's
title An investigation into the effect of longitudinal micro-striations and their profiles, on the drag of flat plates
title_full An investigation into the effect of longitudinal micro-striations and their profiles, on the drag of flat plates
title_fullStr An investigation into the effect of longitudinal micro-striations and their profiles, on the drag of flat plates
title_full_unstemmed An investigation into the effect of longitudinal micro-striations and their profiles, on the drag of flat plates
title_short An investigation into the effect of longitudinal micro-striations and their profiles, on the drag of flat plates
title_sort investigation into the effect of longitudinal micro striations and their profiles on the drag of flat plates
topic Mechanical Engineering
url http://hdl.handle.net/11427/19815
work_keys_str_mv AT parkerkamalluddien aninvestigationintotheeffectoflongitudinalmicrostriationsandtheirprofilesonthedragofflatplates
AT parkerkamalluddien investigationintotheeffectoflongitudinalmicrostriationsandtheirprofilesonthedragofflatplates