UNMET NEED
The reduction in fuel consumption and the subsequent reduced cost of logistics in transportation is an urgent need. Although technology is being developed to improve efficiency of engines used in ground transportation, a more effective target for technological development is reducing aerodynamic drag (which uses up over 50% of a road vehicle’s fuel burn at cruise conditions).
Current technologies for reducing a vehicle’s aerodynamic drag include adding long boat-tails or fins or using active drag reduction technology such as plasma actuators and synthetic jet arrays. However, both of these technologies reduce the operational effectiveness of the vehicle and add substantial cost and complexity. Furthermore, if they are damaged or put in conditions outside of their design conditions, it can actually reduce efficiency.
PROBLEM SOLVED
The inventors have created a 3D woven micro-lattice architecture which will be used for passive flow control. It can be easily shaped to fit on various geometries and incorporated in existing manufacturing processes. Computational simulations show that the flow resistance of vehicles with these porous surface materials can be reduced up to 45%.
STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT
The inventors have already demonstrated the efficacy and viability of this invention. It has shown a drag reduction of up to 10% in wind tunnel tests. The architecture is not yet fully optimized and potential for further increase in the drag reduction exists. The inventors have received federal funding from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and plan to continue to optimize the design and efficiency for future use in road vehicles. They do plan to license this technology to companies with an interest in this field.
