Fabrication of a micro-structured surface based on interfacial convection for drag reduction

Based on interfacial convection in the presence of solvent evaporation, a novel method for the fabrication of a micro-structured surface is proposed to facilitate drag reduction. A mixture was coated on a substrate through a specially developed spray-painting system. Micron scale pits formed spontaneously in the coated surface because of interfacial convection and deformation driven by the gradient of the interfacial tension. Experimental results indicated that particles in the mixture played a crucial role in pit for-mation, and with a suitable selection of particle size and dosage, the characteristic parameters of the pitting could be controlled. The drag reduction experiments were first performed in a water tunnel, and the results showed that the micro-structured surface had a remarkable drag reduction performance over a great range of flow speeds.

Based on interracial convection in the presence of solvent evaporation, a novel method for the fabrication of a micro-structured surface is proposed to facilitate drag reduction： A mixture was coated on a substrate through a specially developed spray-painting system. Micron scale pits formed spontaneously in the coated surface because of interfacial convection and deformation driven by the gradient of the interfacial tension. Experimental results indicated that particles in the mixture played a crucial role in pit formation, and with a suitable selection of particle size and dosage, the characteristic parameters of the pitting could be controlled. The drag reduction experiments were first performed in a water tunnel, and the results showed that the micro-structured surface had a remarkable drag reduction performance over a great range of flow speeds.