Drag Reduction and Energy Saving by Spanwise Traveling Transversal Surface Waves for Flat Plate Flow

TL;DR

This study uses large-eddy simulations to explore how spanwise traveling surface waves on a flat plate can significantly reduce drag and save energy in turbulent boundary flows, revealing optimal parameters and turbulence attenuation mechanisms.

Contribution

It introduces a novel spanwise traveling wave actuation method for drag reduction, supported by extensive LES data and modeling of actuation effects.

Findings

Up to 26% drag reduction achieved.

Net energy savings of up to 10%.

Turbulence attenuation and streak weakening observed.

Abstract

Wall-resolved large-eddy simulations are performed to study the impact of spanwise traveling transversal surface waves in zero-pressure gradient turbulent boundary layer flow. Eighty variations of wavelength, period, and amplitude of the space- and time-dependent sinusoidal wall motion are considered for a boundary layer at a momentum thickness based Reynolds number of $Re_\theta = 1000$. The results show a strong decrease of friction drag of up to $26\,\%$ and considerable net power saving of up to $10\,\%$. However, the highest net power saving does not occur at the maximum drag reduction. The drag reduction is modeled as a function of the actuation parameters by support vector regression using the LES data. A substantial attenuation of the near-wall turbulence intensity and especially a weakening of the near-wall velocity streaks are observed. Similarities between the current actuation technique and the method of a spanwise oscillating wall without any normal surface deflection are reported. In particular, the generation of a directional spanwise oscillating Stokes layer is found to be related to skin-friction reduction.