Turbulent Boundary Layer and Flow Resistance on Plates Roughened by Wires

Abstract

The flow resistance in a plate roughened by equally spaced wires at right angles to the flow direction was investigated experimentally by measuring the turbulent boundary layer developing along it. Measurements of pressure distribution around a roughness element revealed that the pressure drag accounts for a large portion of the surface resistance and remaining skin frictional part is almost equal to that of a smooth plate. Measurements were also made for plates having three-dimensional roughness. These plates were roughened by short wires in a staggered manner. In this case, the boundary layer was found to have a three-dimensional structure due to accompanying secondary currents.