How Shortfin mako shark Inspired Drag-reducing Surfaces

Isurus oxyrinchus · Animal · Open ocean, worldwide temperate and tropical seas

What if the solution to turbulent drag reduction had already been perfected — by a shortfin mako shark over 400 million years of evolution?

The Natural Innovation

Tiny tooth-like scales called denticles cover the shark’s skin in a precise pattern that disrupts the boundary layer of water, reducing turbulent drag. The riblet geometry channels water flow and creates small vortices that reduce skin-friction drag — one of the most effective passive drag-reduction systems found in nature.

The shortfin mako shark lives in Open ocean, worldwide temperate and tropical seas.

In the language of biomimicry, this falls under the Move › Move through fluids category.

The Design Principle

Precisely spaced riblet microstructures align with flow direction to manage the turbulent boundary layer, reducing skin-friction drag by up to 10%.

Human Applications

Drag-reducing riblet films for aircraft fuselages, ship hulls, and swimsuits. Also antimicrobial surfaces because bacteria cannot colonize the textured geometry.

Real-world implementations include: Speedo Fastskin swimsuit, Sharklet antimicrobial surface (Sharklet Technologies), Airbus riblet film trials.

Source: AskNature.org