Mechanism of drag reduction by dimples on a sphere

In this Letter we present a detailed mechanism of drag reduction by dimples on a sphere such as golf-ball dimples by measuring the streamwise velocity above the dimpled surface. Dimples cause local flow separation and trigger the shear layer instability along the separating shear layer, resulting in the generation of large turbulence intensity. With this increased turbulence, the flow reattaches to the sphere surface with a high momentum near the wall and overcomes a strong adverse pressure gradient formed in the rear sphere surface. As a result, dimples delay the main separation and reduce drag significantly. The present study suggests that generation of a separation bubble, i.e., a closed-loop streamline consisting of separation and reattachment, on a body surface is an important flow-control strategy for drag reduction on a bluff body such as the sphere and cylinder.