Shark Skin Riblet Microstructures: An Oceanic Solution to Reduce Shear Wall Stress and Skin Friction

Minimizing energy consumption and its associated costs is a key priority in engineering. Potential solutions are found in nature, particularly the skin of the shortfin mako shark. The riblet microstructures have been shown to reduce drag, offering a promising method for energy reduction in various industries. This study investigates the effectiveness of riblet microstructures in reducing wall shear stress and skin friction in laminar flow. The flow over a flat plate is compared with flow over a riblet-structured surface, considering the impact of the temperature of the fluid. Results show that as temperature increases, shear wall stress and skin friction increase, making the riblet microstructures less effective. While riblets show potential in drag reduction, the associated fabrication and installation costs may outweigh the energy savings regarding laminar flow.