The shortfin mako shark, one of the ocean’s swiftest predators

Biomimicry seems to be popping up all over the news recently, and this week is no exception. While John Dabiri is busy modelling the complex mechanics of jellyfish, another engineer has taken on the study of a different, more dangerous resident of the ocean: sharks.

The shortfin mako shark is known as the “cheetah of the ocean” for its ability to accelerate rapidly and to reach speeds of around 30 miles per hour in the water. One mako shark has even clocked in at over 45 miles per hour (the world’s fastest human sprinters swim at about 5mph)!

Amy Lang next to a water tunnel apparatus

Now, the swift movements of this fearsome predator has captured the interest of Amy Lang, an assistant professor of aerospace engineering and mechanics at the University of Alabama. With the help of grants from the National Science Foundation and NASA, Lang believes she has found the mako shark’s secret: the mechanical efficiency of its scales.

Manually bristled mako shark scales

The scales on either side of the shortfin mako are naturally optimized to increase the shark’s speed and agility. Measuring only .2 centimeters in size, these fine enamel slivers have the ability to bristle, forming small eddies and vortices between the scales, reducing drag and controlling water flow separation. Lang’s research involves testing real sharkskin in a water tunnel lab, and using computer models to analyze its microgeometry and flow patterns. She hopes that soon these insights can be used to develop materials that make airplanes and submarines more fuel-efficient.

Images:
Discovery
University of Alabama
P. Motta/Univ. South Florida

Filed under: Aerospace, e-News, Mechanical

Tags: Aerospace, Biomimicry, Mechanical