Look for methods to conserve energy through shark research

Sharks, ' actors ' in the Shark movie are recently becoming the subject of research for a University of Alabama research project. This project is made possible by the assistance of Dr. Amy Lang, an assistant in the science of space and mechanics.

This project seeks to conserve energy and the ability to control boundary layer (The boundary layer is the layer that reduces the velocity of fluids such as water and gas. This layer is adjacent to the hard surface when fluid is through that hard surface).

The results of the project will allow researchers to find solutions similar to nature to reduce surface friction. Thereby can create many new improvements and applications on energy conservation. This study not only helps us better understand the evolution of sharks but also helps us find ways to control the flow and reduce drag that can be applied to vehicles. Transfer easily .

Dr. Amy Lang and a graduate student work in the University of Alabama lab studying surface friction on a hard surface (Photo: University of Alabama)

Research shows that reducing drag on hard surfaces will save thousands of dollars. For example, calculations only need to reduce 1% of the resistance, save an airline company an amount of $ 200,000 / year and save at least 94,635 liters of fuel in a year. Emissions are also significantly reduced.

Sponsored by the National Science Foundation (USA), the research project has studied the marginal layer running on a skin-like surface of the fastest swimming shark. The boundary layer is the layer that is located closest to a surface where the viscous friction conditions that have created drag in this case are the shark skin.

Dr. Lang hopes to explain why fast-swimming sharks can swim at 90 km / h and have smaller scales than other slow-swimming sharks. Evidence suggests that smaller scale sharks are able to push their scales higher as they swim, so they can swim faster and create a special type of surface on their skin to help create Many boundary layer control mechanisms.

Dr. Lang said: 'We hope to explain how shark skin controls the marginal layer to reduce drag and swim faster. If we can explain it, there will be a very important effect. Applications to reduce the drag of aircraft and underwater vehicles in the future will become a reality. "

Dr. Lang's research is being done at the water tunnel laboratory at Hardaway Hall on the University of Alabama campus. The water tunnel laboratory can increase the geometry of shark skin by 100 times with the corresponding reduction in the flow through the model. This allows the researchers to observe the flow through the shark's skin and allows flow measurement using modern experimental methods.

In addition to funding from the National Science Association, Dr. Lang has recently received Lindbergh funding for his research project.

Uyen Nhi