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Full-Text Articles in Mechanical Engineering

Husker Motorsports Active Drag Reduction System, Creighton Hughes, Evan Killian, Micah Busboom, Aj Johnson, Jude Steffen Dec 2023

Husker Motorsports Active Drag Reduction System, Creighton Hughes, Evan Killian, Micah Busboom, Aj Johnson, Jude Steffen

Honors Theses

Formula SAE is a multifaceted competition that involves student teams designing and competing with an open-wheel style race car. There are 5 different dynamic events included in the competition. Each event requires a unique aerodynamic setup to have the best performance possible. This design project focuses on a drag reduction system (DRS) that will improve aerodynamic performance, resulting in faster lap times and increased competitiveness. Key features include a direct electronic actuation mechanism that will allow the rear wing to be adjusted during a race. The benefits of the DRS system, include increased speed, improved handling, and greater fuel efficiency …


Two-Phase Flow Pressure Drop In Superhydrophobic Channels, Kimberly A. Stevens, Julie Crockett, Daniel R. Maynes, Brian D. Iverson Mar 2017

Two-Phase Flow Pressure Drop In Superhydrophobic Channels, Kimberly A. Stevens, Julie Crockett, Daniel R. Maynes, Brian D. Iverson

Faculty Publications

Superhydrophobic surfaces have been shown to reduce drag in single-phase channel flow; however, little work has been done to characterize their drag-reducing ability found in two-phase flows. Adiabatic, airwater mixtures were used to explore the influence of hydrophobicity on two-phase flows and the hydrodynamics which might be present in flow condensation environments. Pressure drop measurements in a rectangular channel with one superhydrophobic wall (cross-section approximately 0.37 x 10 mm) and three transparent hydrophilic walls were obtained. Data for air/water mixtures with superficial Reynolds numbers ranging from 22–215 and 55–220, respectively, were obtained for superhydrophobic surfaces with three different cavity fractions. …


Computational Fluid Dynamic Analysis Of Microbubble Drag Reduction Systems At High Reynolds Number, John D. Goolcharan Jul 2016

Computational Fluid Dynamic Analysis Of Microbubble Drag Reduction Systems At High Reynolds Number, John D. Goolcharan

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Microbubble drag reduction (MBDR) is an effective method to improve the efficiency of fluid systems. MBDR is a field that has been extensively studied in the past, and experimental values of up to 80% to 90% drag reduction have been obtained. The effectiveness and simplicity of MBDR makes it a viable method for real world applications, particularly in naval applications where it can reduce the drag between the surface of ships and the surrounding water. A two dimensional single phase model was created in ANSYS Fluent to effectively model the behavior of bubble laden flow over a flat plate. This …


Drag Reduction In Turbulent Flows Over Micropatterned Superhydrophobic Surfaces, Robert J. Daniello Jan 2009

Drag Reduction In Turbulent Flows Over Micropatterned Superhydrophobic Surfaces, Robert J. Daniello

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

Periodic, micropatterned superhydrophobic surfaces, previously noted for their ability to provide drag reduction in the laminar flow regime, have been demonstrated capable of reducing drag in the turbulent flow regime as well. Superhydrophobic surfaces contain micro or nanoscale hydrophobic features which can support a shear-free air-water interface between peaks in the surface topology. Particle image velocimetry and pressure drop measurements were used to observe significant slip velocities, shear stress, and pressure drop reductions corresponding to skin friction drag reductions approaching 50%. At a given Reynolds number, drag reduction was found to increase with increasing feature size and spacing, as in …


Effect Of Compliant Wall Motion On Turbulent Boundary Layers, Dennis M. Bushness, Jerry N. Hefner, Robert L. Ash Jan 1977

Effect Of Compliant Wall Motion On Turbulent Boundary Layers, Dennis M. Bushness, Jerry N. Hefner, Robert L. Ash

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

A critical analysis of available compliant wall data which indicated drag reduction under turbulent boundary layers is presented. Detailed structural dynamic calculations suggest that the surfaces responded in a resonant, rather than a compliant, manner. Alternate explanations are given for drag reductions observed in two classes of experiments: (1) flexible pipe flows and (2) water-backed membranes in air. Analysis indicates that the wall motion for the remaining data is typified by short wavelengths in agreement with the requirements of a possible compliant wall drag reduction mechanism recently suggested by Langley. Copyright © 1977 American Institute of Physics.