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Research bumps up aerodynamics

Tiny regular bumps applied to the wing of an aeroplane can substantially reduce total air resistance, and thereby the consumption of fuel. .

Tiny regular bumps applied to the wing of an aeroplane can substantially reduce total air resistance, and thereby the consumption of fuel.

 

Wind tunnel tests at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm, Sweden, have shown that small cylindrical bumps on a surface delay the transition from laminar flow (well-ordered) to turbulent (chaotic) when air flows over it, a crucial factor in total air resistance.

 

If proven outside the lab, this research could lead to savings for the air industry and lessen the environmental impact of increasing demand for air travel.

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