DRAG REDUCTION WITH RIBLETS ON ROWING SHELLS

An experiment is discribed in which riblets are used to attempt to reduce the overall vehicle drag of rowing shells. Two single rowing shells were attached to the drag balance of the carriage of the USNA tow tank and towed and towed at steady velocities from 4-2 ft/sec increments. The attachment mechanism allowed the shells to move freely in heave and pitch which were measured with a sonic height probe and angleometer respectively. Various surface conditions tested include bare hull, flat (non-ribleted) tape and riblet tape in combination with two sizes of trip wire and three trip locations. The predictions compare qualitatively with the experimental results except for the apparent drag reduction with a trip wire at the higher velocities.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • American Towing Tank Conference, 22nd, held St. Johns, Newfoundland, Canada, 8-11 August, 1989; Proceedings. Hosted by the National Research Council Canada, Institute for Marine Dynamics. p.417 [7 p., 10 ref., 2 tab., 14 fig.]
• Authors:
  • Coder, D W
  • Walker, D
• Publication Date: 1989

Language

• English

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Drag
• Old TRIS Terms: Drag reduction
• Subject Areas: Marine Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00698034
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: British Maritime Technology
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 14 1995 12:00AM