Review on the Progress of the Passive Drag Reduction Technology Inspired by Aquatic Organisms

SUN Jiabao; WU Chenchen; YANG Yuequan; YANG Yuling; LIAO Junbin; ZHU Lijing; ZENG Zhixiang

doi:10.16490/j.cnki.issn.1001-3660.2026.20.017

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Surface Technology ›› 2026, Vol. 55 ›› Issue (20) : 243-255. DOI: 10.16490/j.cnki.issn.1001-3660.2026.20.017

Functional Surfaces and Technology

Review on the Progress of the Passive Drag Reduction Technology Inspired by Aquatic Organisms

SUN Jiabao¹, WU Chenchen¹, YANG Yuequan¹, YANG Yuling², LIAO Junbin¹, ZHU Lijing^2,*, ZENG Zhixiang^2,*

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Abstract

Biomimetic passive drag reduction materials emerge as a state-of-the-art interdisciplinary research frontier that synergistically integrates surface and interface science, fluid mechanics, materials science, and bionic engineering. Passive drag reduction strategies rely on the intrinsic structure and physicochemical properties of the surfaces and interfaces without additional external energy input. By rationally coupling the inherent characteristics of matrix materials with precisely designed micro-nano topological morphologies, such materials enable the targeted manipulation of interfacial momentum transport behaviors and the modulation of near-wall turbulent coherent structures, thereby addressing the critical bottlenecks of excessive energy consumption and hydrodynamic loss that severely restrict the efficiency, endurance, and economic benefits of marine navigation. This review presents a comprehensive and in-depth elucidation of the underlying mechanisms governing biomimetic passive drag reduction from the microscale surface and interface effect perspective, with a central focus on the fundamental principle of reconstructing momentum transport pathways within the near-wall turbulent boundary layer via the synergistic design of micro-nano structures and physical fields. The state-of-the-art research progress, intrinsic drag reduction mechanisms, and advanced surface fabrication technologies corresponding to four representative and widely investigated biomimetic strategies were systematically summarized, including shark-skin-inspired riblet structures, fish-scale-derived hierarchical surfaces, flexible wall coatings mimicking biological soft tissues, and superhydrophobic surfaces inspired by water-repellent biological prototypes. For each biomimetic system, the review elaborated on how micro-nano topological features and interfacial physicochemical properties interacted with fluid flow to suppress turbulent generation, weaken momentum exchange between fluid layers, reduce wall shear stress, and stabilize near-wall flow states, thereby achieving efficient and stable drag reduction under different flow conditions. Specifically, the sharkskin groove structure could reduce the near-wall vortex of the turbulent boundary layer and inhibit the spanwise motion of the vortex. The fish scales were arranged in a tiled pattern, guiding the water flow to flow smoothly along the surface, thereby reducing the occurrence of flow separation and vortices. The flexible wall produces adaptive elastic deformation with the fluctuation of the flow field, and the transition of the delay layer to the high resistance turbulence. The superhydrophobic surface reduced the contact area of the solid-liquid interface and weakened the viscous frictional resistance at the solid-liquid interface through an intermediate gas film layer. Furthermore, this review conducted a thorough analysis of the pivotal technical challenges and practical limitations that impeded the large-scale engineering application of each biomimetic surface construction strategy. These challenges included the scalable and high-precision replication of shark-skin microstructures with complex three-dimensional morphologies, the poor aging resistance and insufficient marine environmental durability of flexible polymer coatings, the unsatisfactory long-term stability and weak mechanical robustness of superhydrophobic surfaces that easily failed under physical abrasion and continuous liquid immersion, as well as the significant performance attenuation caused by the mismatch between laboratory-scale ideal conditions and complex real marine service environments. Finally, the future developmental directions of biomimetic passive drag reduction material were prospected. This work provides systematic theoretical guidance, critical technical references, and innovative research ideas for promoting the fundamental exploration, performance optimization, and industrial application of high-performance biomimetic drag reduction technologies in marine engineering, fluid transportation, and other related fields.

Key words

passive drag reduction / bionic surface / aquatic organisms / microstructure / flexible wall / superhydrophobicity

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SUN Jiabao, WU Chenchen, YANG Yuequan, YANG Yuling, LIAO Junbin, ZHU Lijing, ZENG Zhixiang. Review on the Progress of the Passive Drag Reduction Technology Inspired by Aquatic Organisms[J]. Surface Technology. 2026, 55(20): 243-255

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