Bio-inspired Structures for Enhanced Control of Flow-Induced Disturbances in Surface Cavities

Flow-induced disturbances from cavities present significant challenges. Interactions between fluid flow and surface cavities generate complex oscillatory flow fields, which can lead to flow separation and reduced structural performance. Bio-inspired designs offer promising solutions for flow control in various fluid environments. Owls achieve efficient flight through specialized feather structures that manipulate airflow and suppress vortex formation; translating these principles to engineered systems could improve management of cavity-induced flow features. Studies showed that the spacing and shape of leading-edge serrations are critical for influencing flow structures. In owls, serration spacing is tuned to dominant turbulent length scales, effectively scattering coherent vortices and redistributing energy across a broader frequency range. The goal of this project is to design, fabricate, and evaluate bio-inspired structures with tailored feature spacing and curvature to target flow control in groove-like cavities. Various geometries were tested in a water channel, using particle image velocimetry to analyze the effect of fine periodic elements on the flow. Results show that thin cylinders with spacing proportional to the turbulence integral length demonstrate vortex disruption and alter flow separation patterns. The successful fabrication and experimental validation of the bio-inspired features lay groundwork for advanced flow management in engineering applications.