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Journals / International Journal of Aeronautics and Astronautics / 2025 / Cilt: 6 Sayı: 2

The impact of the shark skin-inspired riblet concept application on the aircraft wing surface on aerodynamic performance

Hava aracı kanat yüzeyine köpekbalığı derisinden esinlenen riblet konsepti uygulamasının aerodinamik performans üzerindeki etkisi

Erdogan Kaygan(Lentatek Uzay Havacılık ve Teknoloji A.Ş.)0000-0003-3319-3657
Reem Aly(MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY, FACULTY OF ENGINEERING)0009-0002-6558-4601
Pages
79–98
Publication Date
2025-12-31
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

The results demonstrated that riblet structures (denticles) can lead to significant drag reduction and, hence enhanced aerodynamic performance.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:A comprehensive review of sharkskin-inspired surfaces and riblet structures (also known as denticles) is conducted which is motivated by the desire to enhance aerodynamic efficiency and sustainability in modern aviation.
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Key Findings & Data:This approach has gained increasing attention as a promising method for improving aircraft performance, particularly due to its direct impact on reducing fuel consumption.
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Conclusion & Impact:The results demonstrated that riblet structures (denticles) can lead to significant drag reduction and, hence enhanced aerodynamic performance.
🔬Design:Review & Systematic Survey
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Aerodinamik · Dişçikler · Kaburgalar

Abstract

A comprehensive review of sharkskin-inspired surfaces and riblet structures (also known as denticles) is conducted which is motivated by the desire to enhance aerodynamic efficiency and sustainability in modern aviation. Inspired by natural sea creatures like sharks, biomimetic surface alterations aim to reduce drag by altering the flow behavior around aerodynamic surfaces. This approach has gained increasing attention as a promising method for improving aircraft performance, particularly due to its direct impact on reducing fuel consumption. Following the literature review, a simple case study is presented to depict the suitability of riblet applications. The results demonstrated that riblet structures (denticles) can lead to significant drag reduction and, hence enhanced aerodynamic performance. These surface modifications not only can benefit conventional aircrafts but also offer a great promise for novel air vehicles, including unmanned aerial systems, electric aircraft, and urban air mobility platforms, where efficiency and extended range are critical. These findings highlight the potential of biomimetic surface designs as an effective solution in the development of next-generation aerospace systems.

Özet

Bu çalışmada, modern havacılıkta artan aerodinamik verimlilik ve sürdürülebilirlik ihtiyacından yola çıkarak, köpekbalığı derisinden ilham alan yüzeyler ve riblet (kaburga yapıları-dişçikler olarak da bilinir) yapılarına ilişkin kapsamlı bir literatür incelemesi gerçekleştirilmiştir. Köpekbalıkları gibi doğal yüzücülerden esinlenen biyomimetik yüzey modifikasyonları, akışkanın aerodinamik yüzeyler etrafındaki davranışını değiştirerek sürüklemeyi azaltmayı hedeflemektedir. Bu yaklaşım, yakıt tüketimini doğrudan etkilemesi nedeniyle, uçak performansını artırmaya yönelik umut verici bir yöntem olarak son yıllarda önemli ölçüde ilgi görmektedir. Literatür incelemesini takiben, riblet uygulamalarının pratik uygulanabilirliğini değerlendirmek amacıyla temsilî bir örnek çalışma sunulmuştur. Elde edilen sonuçlar, riblet yapıların sürükleme kuvvetini önemli ölçüde azaltabileceğini ve dolayısıyla aerodinamik performansı artırabileceğini göstermektedir. Bu tür yüzey işlemleri yalnızca geleneksel uçaklar için değil, aynı zamanda verimlilik ve menzil gibi unsurların kritik olduğu insansız hava araçları, elektrikli hava araçları ve kentsel hava taşımacılığı platformları gibi yeni nesil hava araçları için de büyük potansiyel sunmaktadır. Genel olarak, elde edilen bulgular biyomimetik yüzey tasarımlarının yeni nesil havacılık sistemlerinin geliştirilmesinde etkili bir strateji olabileceğini ortaya koymaktadır.

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Cite This Article

Kaygan, E., Aly, R. (2025). The impact of the shark skin-inspired riblet concept application on the aircraft wing surface on aerodynamic performance. International Journal of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Cilt: 6 Sayı: 2, 79–98. https://doi.org/10.55212/ijaa.1736395

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