By now most all of the graduate students studying fluid dynamics realize that the skin of sharks is very well suited and evolved for high speed swimming. This is because the chevron texture creates cavitation and the tiny air bubbles break the tension of the water allowing the creature to skedaddle like no other. It is amazing what we can learn from nature and the strategies and problems that evolution has solved, brilliant actually. Okay so, let's talk some more.
You see, as the 2012 Olympic Games concluded and the US took home over 104 medals, 46 of them gold, I was reminded of our superior US Swim Team and the fact that previously the shark skin swimsuits had been banned because it gave the swimmers in international meets what was deemed an unfair advantage. Sure, being able to break the water tension as well as a shark would be an awesome advantage wouldn't it. Indeed, and it is thus, a decent strategy to be used in fluid dynamic engineering.
Also realize that this strategy would work in any medium of fluid not just H20, so I propose immediate wind tunnel testing on dirigible blimps with shark skin, with the shape of the chevrons equal to the best efficiency for the air-density and altitude the blimp will fly in. Plus, the ability of this skin to morph in shape for the changes as it climbs in altitude. Further, once we have that ability, one side could morph and the other not, thus, making it a perfect strategy for lateral control, as the entire side of the blimp becomes a control surface for turning in the relative wind.
Is this possible you ask? Yes, I know it is possible and I've already witnessed it in my mind's eye while running virtual wind tunnel tests in my mind, the dirigible performs brilliantly, and we are able to cut down on the very large fins and structure to support them. The blimp is faster, more aerodynamic, and can literally turn on a dime. Interestingly enough, my grandfather worked in Naval Research in the US Navy Blimp Program in his day and even got a commendation from the President for his work.
What I am saying is this, we are advancing in our use of dirigibles, so, why not take it all to a higher level with better control, faster speeds, and more inherent stability borrowing a few tricks from Mother Nature? Please consider all this and think on it.
Lance Winslow has launched a new provocative series of eBooks on Future Aerospace Concepts. Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net/
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