Boundary-Layer Mechanisms in Flow Over Triangular Porous-Textured Flat Plates: A Computational Fluid Dynamics Study

Author

Luis Angel Alvarez, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Date of Award

12-1-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Engineering (MSE)

Department

Mechanical Engineering

First Advisor

Isaac Choutapalli

Second Advisor

Horacio Vasquez

Third Advisor

Yingchen Yang

Abstract

Growing demand for energy-efficient vehicles drives research into flow control strategies that mitigate aerodynamic drag. Active devices such as morphing flaps or plasma actuators offer real-time authority but require external power. Passive concepts, including riblets, tubercles, porous coatings, and miniature vortex generators, reshape the boundary layer without additional energy input. We propose an integrated passive solution called Triangular Porous Texturing (TPT). TPT combines the two mechanisms: a periodic array of triangular prisms that generate controlled streamwise vortices, and an embedded porous matrix that locally adjusts pressure gradients near the wall. Acting synergistically, these features attenuate near-wall turbulence, redistribute momentum, and reduce skin-friction drag – one of the primary penalties on aerodynamic performance. Preliminary analysis suggests that TPT outperforms single-mode passive devices, offering a compact option for surfaces ranging from wings and turbine blades to bluff bodies.

Comments

Copyright 2025 Luis Angel Alvarez. All Rights Reserved. https://proquest.com/docview/3301461829

Recommended Citation

Alvarez, L. A. (2025). Boundary-Layer Mechanisms in Flow Over Triangular Porous-Textured Flat Plates: A Computational Fluid Dynamics Study [Master's thesis, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley]. ScholarWorks @ UTRGV. https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/etd/1836