Leidenfrost Vapor Layers Reduce Drag without the Crisis in High Viscosity Liquids

The drag coefficient CD of a solid smooth sphere moving in a fluid is known to be only a function of the Reynolds number Re and diminishes rapidly at the drag crisis around Re∼3×10⁵. A Leidenfrost vapor layer on a hot sphere surface can trigger the onset of the drag crisis at a lower Re. By using a range of high viscosity perfluorocarbon liquids, we show that the drag reduction effect can occur over a wide range of Re, from as low as ∼600 to 10⁵. The Navier slip model with a viscosity dependent slip length can fit the observed drag reduction and wake shape.