Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Whale Flippers Make Better Airplane Wings

Posted by michael on from the thar-she-blows dept.

phreakmonkey writes "The bumpy, ridged surface on humpback whale flippers provide more lift, less drag, and exhibit better stall characteristics than traditional aircraft wing designs, according to Duke University, West Chester University, and the U.S. Naval Academy. This could help improve the design of airfoils used on everything from aircraft wings to underwater vehicles. The results were published in the May 2004 issue of Physics of Fluids and reported on Innovations Report."

3 of 63 comments (clear)

  1. Obligatory Douglas Adams... by dustmote · · Score: 5, Funny

    I don't think whales fly all that well, at least not according to Douglas Adams.

    "I wonder if it will be my friend?" ***SPLAT*** :)

    --


    -1, "1337" speak
  2. Golf Ball Dimples by joelparker · · Score: 5, Informative
    Bumps and dimples tend to make things fly more reliably, by letting small eddies of air whirl. The same effect can be seen in golf balls-- a golf ball with dimples (like all the ones today) will fly farther and straighter than a perfectly spherical one.

    Why does a golf ball have dimples?

  3. What conditions does this effect need? by Retric · · Score: 5, Interesting
    The tests show that bump-ridged flippers do not stall as quickly and produce more lift and less drag than comparably sized sleek flippers.
    ...
    The row of tubercles sheers the flow of water and redirects it into the scalloped valley between each tubercle, causing swirling vortices that roll up and over the flipper to actually enhance lift properties.

    This sounds like the same effect that Honeybee's use, but I can't help but wonder what range of wind speeds this works for. My guess would be this is only useful for subsonic aircraft. Even if the effect were limited to say 1/2 the speed of sound there are plenty of aircraft that could benefit from this. If anyone can find a link which gives the conditions required for this effect that would be great until then I am going to assume it's not gong to work on a 747. Although some cessnas's might end up with bumpy wings.