| Title: |
An Examination of Drag Reduction Mechanisms in Marine Animals, with
Potential Applications to Uninhabited Aerial Vehicles |
| Author(s): |
Musick, John A.; Patterson, Mark R.; Dowd, Wesley W.
|
| Abstract: |
Previous engineering research and development has documented the
plausibility of applying biomimetic approaches to aerospace
engineering. Past cooperation between the Virginia Institute of Marine
Science (VIMS) and NASA focused on the drag reduction qualities of the
microscale dermal denticles of shark skin. This technology has
subsequently been applied to submarines
and aircraft. The present study aims to identify and document the
three-dimensional geometry of additional macroscale morphologies that
potentially confer drag reducing hydrodynamic qualities upon marine
animals and which could be applied to enhance the range and endurance
of Uninhabited Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Such morphologies have evolved
over eons to maximize organismal energetic efficiency by reducing the
energetic input required to maintain cruising speeds in the viscous
marine environment. These drag reduction qualities are manifested in
several groups of active marine animals commonly encountered by ongoing
VIMS research programs: namely sharks, bony fishes such as tunas, and
sea turtles. Through spatial data acquired by molding and digital
imagery analysis of marine specimens provided by VIMS, NASA aims to
construct scale models of these features and to test these potential
drag reduction morphologies for application to aircraft design. This
report addresses the efforts of VIMS and NASA personnel on this project
between January and November 2001. |
| NASA Center: |
Langley Research Center
|
| Publication Date: |
[2002]
|
| Document Source: |
CASI |
| Online Source: |
|
| Document ID: |
20020046613
|
| Publication Information: |
Number of Pages = 7 |
| Contract-Grant-Task Number: |
NCC1-01041 |
| Price Code: |
A02 |
| Keywords: |
AIRCRAFT DESIGN; DRAG REDUCTION; FISHES; BIOMIMETICS; SCALE MODELS; MARINE BIOLOGY;
|
| Accessibility: |
Unclassified; No Copyright; Unlimited; Publicly available; Final Report |
| Updated/Added to NTRS: |
2008-06-02 |