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Shark skin-inspired designs that improve aerodynamic performance
August G Domel1, Mehdi Saadat2,3, James C Weaver4
1Harvard University John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
Journal of the Royal Society, Interface
|February 14, 2018
Summary
Shark-inspired surface designs significantly improve aerofoil performance by reducing drag and increasing lift. These novel denticle structures enhance aerodynamic efficiency, outperforming traditional methods at low angles of attack.
Area of Science:
- Aerodynamics
- Fluid Mechanics
- Biomimetics
Background:
- Aerodynamic performance enhancement is crucial for efficient flight.
- Shark skin denticles are known for their drag-reducing properties.
- Surface modifications offer a promising approach to improve aerofoil efficiency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the aerodynamic effects of novel denticle-inspired surface designs on aerofoils.
- To discover surface structures that simultaneously reduce drag and generate lift.
- To compare the performance of these novel designs with existing technologies like vortex generators.
Main Methods:
- Experimental investigations of aerofoil models with denticle-inspired surfaces.
- Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations for parametric design exploration.
- Analysis of flow patterns, including separation bubbles and streamwise vortices.
Main Results:
- Identified denticle-inspired surface structures that achieve simultaneous drag reduction and lift generation.
- Achieved lift-to-drag ratio improvements comparable to state-of-the-art vortex generators.
- Observed performance improvements of up to 323% at low angles of attack.
Conclusions:
- Denticle-inspired surfaces offer a novel and effective method for enhancing aerofoil aerodynamic performance.
- The observed benefits are attributed to a separation bubble enhancing suction and streamwise vortices replenishing boundary layer momentum.
- Findings provide new insights into biomimetic design and the functional morphology of shark denticles for improved swimming efficiency.
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