Boundary Layer
Due to their height, riblets mainly interact with the viscous sublayer of the boundary layer, where they impede cross-stream translation of streamwise vortices, which reduces the ejection of these vortices into the outer boundary layers und subsequently their momentum transfer through twisting and tangling.
Riblet Simulation
As can be seen in the comparison of the three used geometries for CFD simulations, the trapezoidal riblets are being compared to two smooth plates, one at the height of the valley of the grooves and the other one at the height of the tip
Experiments
A faster and conveniently more compact approach was taken with utilizing a Taylor-Couette system as a testing environment.
History
Learn about the history of Riblets from the very first beginning until the application in different sectors.
Associated Benefits
Riblets not only reduce the boundary layer thickness, but also the velocity fluctuations. Additonally they can change the boundary layer profile.
