In a recent study, researchers who are inspired by shark scales are expected to be able to apply and enhance the aerodynamic performance of aircraft, drones and wind turbines. The sharks have evolved over the long term into a perfect aerodynamics Highly functional biological structures Harvard University and the University of Southern California biology and engineering research team conducted a new study of shark skin scales in the hope that the research results will further enhance the airspeed performance of unmanned aircraft, aircraft and wind turbines.
Shark skin surface looks very smooth, but in fact it can be observed under the biological microscope covered with tiny microscopic dentate shield scale structure, sharks use scale shape to significantly enhance lift and reduce resistance. And this design If applied to the design of aircraft (airfoil), it can greatly improve its air force properties.Most studies focus on shark scales to reduce drag, and the team's research focused on how to improve shark skin scales Lift force, co-author George Lauder said, 'We know a lot about the structure of these denticulate scales that are similar to human teeth, but their specific functional aspects are yet to be developed.'
The authors studied the mackerel sharks, the fastest of the oceans in the ocean, very specifically, not only using CT scans to study the structure of their toothed scales, but also modeling and 3D printing to restore the structure of these three ridge edges, These models are tested in a flow tank with more than 20 different models of placement, location and size.
They found that these toothed scales produced high-energy, microscopic eddy currents that dramatically increase the lift of objects in both airflow and fluid flow, with lift-drag ratios as high as 323%.
