Hydrothermal augmentation of flat plates via nature-inspired surface modifications using shark skin-mimetic structures

Abstract

Improvements in thermal and aerodynamic systems are fueled by biomimicry. Solar technologies inspired by photosynthesis improve energy capture, and vehicle designs that reduce drag are influenced by shark skin and bird flight. These nature-inspired solutions enhance efficiency, sustainability, and performance in the energy, transportation, and environmental engineering domains. The novelty of this work is numerically examining how rib designs inspired by shark denticles affect the fluid flow and heat transfer performance of a plate by comparing six distinct models (equipped with shark denticles) to a simple flat plate (without ribs). Each model introduces variations in denticle shape, arrangement, and angle. Two fluid flow regimes were examined in each section: laminar (Re = 400–1,000) and turbulent (Re = 5,000–20,000). According to the obtained numerical outcomes, the local Nusselt number and C_f varied significantly among the models. The present work reported a maximum increase of almost 77.79 % in the average Nusselt number compared to the simple flat plate at Re = 20,000. This increase demonstrates the significant influence of the altered shark denticle geometry. Moreover, at Re = 400 in laminar flow, the friction coefficient reaches its maximum drop, about 36.67 % from the flat plate. This substantial decrease indicates the effectiveness of the angled denticle arrangement in reducing frictional resistance. As a result, geometries inspired by the denticles of sharks significantly improve heat transfer and lower drag. The outcomes demonstrate the potential of bio-inspired designs to enhance heat transfer and aerodynamic efficiency.