Originally posted by Hospital_Rocket
Has there been any papers written by hobbyists on controlling boundary layer
airflow?
I was painting a rocket with Kilz and was wondering if it would make sense,
instead of sanding it smooth, to leave the rough finish to break up the
airflow.
Sort of like a golfball.
Anything that causes the laminar surface flow to break up into chaotic turbulence increases drag. We did lots and lots of tests on turbulence at Santa Fe Institute since it's a manifestation of chaos. Anything that preserves the laminar flow is good.
The dimples on a golf ball don't reduce drag, they increase it, but selectively according to the spin, to cause the ball to rise and/or curve. Not surpising that they increase drag, after all, wings on an airplane increase drag. But they produce enough lift to overcome the drag they create.
Here's a thought: a dolphin's shape can't account for its speed and efficiency. Fact is, they exude little gel-like hairs from their skin that preserve the laminar flow, and they ablate, that is, after they get so long and start to get curly or bent (that would increase turbulence) they break/wash off and float away taking the turbulence with them.
Two words: fur rocket.
Or maybe feathers. I have a packet of feathers from a turkey around somewhere if you want to try it.