Contact:
Kirstine Berg-Sørensen, 4525-3101 (kirstine.berg-sorensen@fysik.dtu.dk)
The surface structure of the skin of some fast-swimming species of shark is believed to reduce the drag near the surface of the shark, allowing for less energy spent on swimming. The structure has been copied by Boeing on their airplane wings and by Speedo on swimsuits. Thus, the understanding of the flow patterns near the surface of a shark is of interest not only from a basic science point of view. Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) is an established method for the investigation of velocity fields in a wide range of fluid systems. In this project, you will analyse the flow near skin from different species of shark –fast swimming as well as slow swimming animals. The skin samples are positioned in simple microfluidic chambers that you are to help prepare too. You will also be able to suggest and investigate other designs than the current one. The project contains experimental work including data analysis using available software.
Examples of the surface structure from different species of shark. Somnosius microchephalus, also known as the Greenland shark, is a slow swimming species whereas Sphyrna lewini (a hammerhead shark) is a fast moving species.
Images are obtained by the SEM in Nanoteket by two first year Physics and Nanotechnology students.