The Berlin oil channel for drag reduction research

An oil channel designed for drag reduction research is described. The channel is characterized by a varied thickness of the viscous sublayer (1-4 mm), surfaces with longitudinal ribs of fairly large dimensions, and lateral spacing of the ribs between 3 and 10 mm. Design innovations which contribute...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Experiments in fluids 1992-03, Vol.12 (4-5), p.251-260
Main Authors: BECHERT, D. W, HOPPE, G, VAN DER HOEVEN, J. G. T, MAKRIS, R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Exact sciences and technology
Fluid dynamics
Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications)
Instrumentation for fluid dynamics
Physics
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Summary:An oil channel designed for drag reduction research is described. The channel is characterized by a varied thickness of the viscous sublayer (1-4 mm), surfaces with longitudinal ribs of fairly large dimensions, and lateral spacing of the ribs between 3 and 10 mm. Design innovations which contribute to the improvement of measurements include adjustable turbulators to maintain equilibrium turbulence in the channel, a bubble trap to avoid bubbles in the channel at high flow velocities, a simple method for the accurate calibration of manometers, and the elimination of the Coulomb friction in ball bearings. The channel has a cross section of 25 x 85 cm, is 11 m long, and is filled with about 4.5 metric tons of white paraffin oil. The kinematic viscosity of the oil is 1.2 x 10 exp -5 sq m/s, and the highest average velocity is 1.29 m/s. The Reynolds number range is between 5,000 and 26,800 for fully established turbulent flow. (O.G.)
ISSN:0723-4864
1432-1114
DOI:10.1007/BF00187303