One of the case studies was a research on shark skin and its possible applications on human products. For decades the shark has marveled us with its high movement efficiency in water. Its skin structure turns out to be a crucial part of this ability. The shark skin is constructed with dermal denticles, or small scales with longitudinal grooves. These small teeth help minimize water turbulence that is created when fast-water moving over smooth surfaces. Furthermore, the grooves on the scales act as a guiding channel for reinforcing the flow direction of water.
Another function of the scale is to prevent the marine organism to contact when they constantly hitting the skin as sharks are moving through water. These micro-organisms can adhere to the skin surface and are hazardous to sharks. With its skin accelerating the water flow, the shark can reduce the contact time, and the skin’s nano-texture also helps to reduce the available contact area for organisms to adhere.
Based on these findings, the shark skin has inspired design in many ways. Today the boat coating surface has emulated the shark skin to limit possible micro-species from attaching onto its surfaces and has greatly improves the boat’s energy efficiency. This way it also reduces the use of toxic chemicals which were used to clean the boat surface.
Recently the shark skin has yet made another great impact in the swimming industry where the skin texture is applied on swimming suits that helps improving the swimmer’s speed by three percent.
More applications are being developed from this inspiration, and there are much more from the nature for human to learn. For more information, visit the Biomimicry Institute’s website at http://www.biomimicryinstitute.org/
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