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Article
Characterization of the Effect of Surface Roughness and Surface Texture on Fluid Flow: Past, Present and Future
International Journal of Thermal Sciences (2006)
  • James B. Taylor, Rochester Institute of Technology
  • Andres L. Carrano, Georgia Southern University
  • Satish G. Kandlikar, Rochester Institute of Technology
Abstract
Surface roughness (texture) has an effect on fluid flow in networks which has been studied for well over a century. The exact effect roughness has on fluid flow has not been completely understood, but a working estimate has been offered by a variety of authors over time. The work of Colebrook, Nikuradse, and Moody has provided practitioners with a method to include at least a first order estimate of roughness effects, but their work has been limited to relative roughness (roughness height to diameter) values of 5% or less. Modern fluidic systems at the mini- and micro-levels routinely violate the 5% relative roughness threshold due to the inability to control the roughness of surfaces to sufficient levels with respect to decreasing system scale. Current work by Kandlikar et al., has extended the traditional methods of assessing surface roughness effects up to 14% relative roughness by including the effect of constricted flow diameters (modified flow diameter based on constrictions caused by surface roughness) and modifying the Moody diagram to reflect new experimental data. The future of micro fluidics would suggest that trends for miniaturization will continue and that further understanding and experimentation will be warranted. This is especially true with regards to understanding the role of roughness on the flow in mini- and micro-channels.
Keywords
  • Roughness,
  • Micro-fluidics,
  • Single phase flow,
  • Micro-channels
Publication Date
October, 2006
DOI
10.1016/j.ijthermalsci.2006.01.004
Citation Information
James B. Taylor, Andres L. Carrano and Satish G. Kandlikar. "Characterization of the Effect of Surface Roughness and Surface Texture on Fluid Flow: Past, Present and Future" International Journal of Thermal Sciences Vol. 45 Iss. 10 (2006) p. 962 - 968 ISSN: 1290-0729
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/andres-carrano/17/