Hibernating Turbulence in Boundary-Layer Flows

Abstract

This proposal will focus on detecting and characterising the recently discovered phenomena of hibernating turbulence in boundary-layer flows. This may lead to ultimately transformative technology which would increase overall vehicle energy efficiency. The skin-friction drag force is a major source of fuel consumption across all major transportation modes. Hibernating turbulence is a unique form of intermittent flow behaviour, which causes the skin-friction drag force experienced by an aero- or hydrodynamic body to temporarily reduce by up to 70%. Nominally 50% of the total drag on aircraft is due to skin-friction drag, this increases to 90% for hydrodynamic vehicles such as submarines. Consequently, minimising drag by maintaining intervals of hibernating turbulence would reduce fuel consumption and, in turn, lower cost and improve vehicle performance.

Document Details

Document Type
DoD Grant Award
Publication Date
Jul 28, 2017
Source ID
FA95501710231

Entities

People

  • Richard Whalley

Organizations

  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research
  • Newcastle University
  • United States Air Force

Tags

Readers

  • Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy Engineering.
  • Fluid Mechanics and Fluid Dynamics.