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Bioinspired surfaces with special micro-structures and wettability for drag reduction: which surface design will be a
Yi Zhu1, Fuchao Yang1, Zhiguang Guo2
1Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for the Green Preparation and Application of Functional Materials, School of Materials Science & Engineering and Hubei Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China. yfc@hubu.edu.cn zguo@licp.cas.cn.
Nanoscale
|February 10, 2021
Summary
Nature inspires bioinspired surfaces for drag reduction, mimicking plants and animals. These surfaces, like riblets and superhydrophobic designs, offer significant improvements for applications in transport and energy systems.
Area of Science:
- Biomimetics and Fluid Dynamics
- Surface Science and Engineering
Background:
- Humanity has long learned from nature, leading to bioinspired surfaces for drag reduction.
- Applications span pipeline systems, maritime transport, and military technology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review natural low-drag surfaces and their mechanisms.
- To compare different bioinspired surface designs for drag reduction.
- To analyze merits, deficiencies, and future prospects.
Main Methods:
- Identification of natural organisms with low-drag surfaces.
- Analysis of drag reduction mechanisms (surface geometry, lubricating layers).
- Fabrication and comparison of bioinspired surfaces (riblets, superhydrophobic, slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces).
Main Results:
- Two primary drag reduction mechanisms identified: surface geometry modification and lubricating layers.
- Bioinspired surfaces like riblets, superhydrophobic, and SLIPS demonstrate improved drag reduction rates.
- Comparative analysis highlights the strengths and weaknesses of various designs.
Conclusions:
- Bioinspired surfaces offer effective solutions for drag reduction across various applications.
- Continued research and development are crucial for optimizing performance and addressing challenges.
- Future prospects include enhanced efficiency and broader implementation in engineering fields.
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