Drag Reduction Characteristics of Bionic Pit and Groove Combined Microstructure Surfaces

LI Jiahao; ZHANG Chaofeng; PANG Liehui; SUN Shoule; WANG Shuangli

doi:10.16490/j.cnki.issn.1001-3660.2026.13.023

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Surface Technology ›› 2026, Vol. 55 ›› Issue (13) : 265-272. DOI: 10.16490/j.cnki.issn.1001-3660.2026.13.023

Friction, Wear and Lubrication

Drag Reduction Characteristics of Bionic Pit and Groove Combined Microstructure Surfaces

LI Jiahao, ZHANG Chaofeng^*, PANG Liehui, SUN Shoule, WANG Shuangli

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Abstract

The work aims to investigate the drag reduction characteristics of bionic pit and groove combined microstructure surfaces inspired by swordfish skin, focusing on the evolution from fixed-section to non-fixed-section structures and their corresponding effects on near-wall flow regulation. A series of bionic microstructures, including fixed-section U-shaped grooves (UG-SS), equal-width dents (DUD), contraction dents (DUS), and slope-shaped dents (DSD), were systematically designed to explore how geometrical variations affected drag reduction performance. The experimental methodology involved small-scale water tunnel tests, where test samples were precisely embedded into a baseplate to ensure smooth surface transitions and eliminate flow disturbances from gaps. Flow velocities ranged from 0.5 to 5 m/s, with each test condition repeated three times to obtain reliable average measurements. Complementary numerical simulations were conducted through Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations coupled with the RNG k-ε turbulence model. The computational domain employed refined hexahedral and tetrahedral meshes near the microstructured wall, with grid independence confirmed at over one million elements. Periodic boundary conditions were applied in the streamwise and spanwise directions, with no-slip conditions on the top surface and the microstructured wall at the bottom, allowing detailed analysis of near-wall flow dynamics.
Experimental and numerical results showed that fixed-section UG-SS grooves exhibited a peak drag reduction of 5.5% at 1 m/s, characterized by low-speed region stabilization and suppression of turbulent fluctuations within the groove. Non-fixed-section slope-shaped dents (DSD) achieved a higher peak drag reduction of 7.5% at 0.5 m/s, demonstrating superior performance at low speeds. Equal-width dents (DUD) and contraction dents (DUS) consistently showed drag-increasing behavior across the tested velocity range, attributed to the generation of near-wall vortical structures that disrupted flow order and enhanced energy dissipation. The DSD structure induced a distinctive "ball-like effect" in which flow entering the slope-shaped pit formed recirculating vortices that isolated low-speed fluid near the wall from high-momentum mainstream flow, effectively moderating velocity gradients and delaying energy diffusion. Detailed velocity field analysis revealed that the DSD surface maintained coherent near-wall layers at low and medium velocities, while flow destabilization occurred at higher velocities due to vortex collapse and layer breakdown. In contrast, UG-SS grooves experienced gradual low-speed region expansion and velocity gradient weakening as flow speed increased, leading to transition from drag reduction to drag increase at higher velocities.
This work provides quantitative characterization of drag reduction performance for both fixed-section and non-fixed- section microstructures and identifies the key mechanisms governing their effectiveness. The slope-shaped DSD pits exhibit enhanced low-speed drag reduction due to vortex-mediated momentum isolation, while conventional fixed-section grooves offer moderate reduction through stable secondary vortices. These findings establish design principles for non-fixed-section underwater microstructured surfaces, offering a novel strategy for optimizing drag reduction in marine vehicles. The work demonstrates that careful geometric design of bionic microstructures can achieve targeted control of near-wall turbulence, providing a mechanistic basis for future applications in underwater vehicle efficiency enhancement.

Key words

bionic / pit and groove combination / drag reduction rate / flow field characteristics / drag reduction characteristics

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LI Jiahao, ZHANG Chaofeng, PANG Liehui, SUN Shoule, WANG Shuangli. Drag Reduction Characteristics of Bionic Pit and Groove Combined Microstructure Surfaces[J]. Surface Technology. 2026, 55(13): 265-272

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