Turbulence Modification by Superhydrophobic Bluff Body

Abstract

This paper investigates the impact of superhydrophobicity on turbulent flow characteristics, drag force, and lift force through numerical simulations. A superhydrophobicity boundary condition is implemented on the surface of a sphere, altering the fluid-solid interaction, and introducing air pockets within the superhydrophobic texture. The results demonstrate a reduction in turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) by approximately 20%, accompanied by a drag reduction of approximately 15% compared to the fully wetted case.  Additionally, the lift coefficient experiences an increase of approximately 10% with the implementation of the superhydrophobic surface. These findings, consistent with previous studies, highlight the efficacy of superhydrophobic surfaces in turbulence modification, drag reduction, and lift enhancement. The quantified reductions in drag force and enhancements in lift force demonstrate the potential of superhydrophobic surfaces for improving efficiency and energy savings in various applications. This research contributes to our understanding of the benefits of superhydrophobicity for flow control and offers insights for the development of drag reduction strategies and flow manipulation techniques. Further experimental validation and optimization of superhydrophobic surface design are necessary to fully exploit their advantages in practical engineering applications.