A self-healing, scratch resistant slippery surface that is manufactured by wicking a chemically-inert, high-density liquid coating over a roughened solid surface featuring micro and nanoscale topographies is described. Such a slippery surface shows anti-wetting properties, as well as exhibits significant reduction of adhesion of a broad range of biological materials, including particles in suspension or solution. Specifically, the slippery surfaces can be applied to medical devices and equipment to effectively repel biological materials such as blood, and prevent, reduce, or delay coagulation and surface-mediated clot formation. Moreover, the slippery surfaces can be used to prevent fouling by microorganisms such as bacteria.

An airflow adjusting apparatus to be installed in a vehicle includes an airflow generator and a controller. The airflow generator is provided on an inner surface of a wheel house or on a wheel. The wheel house provides a wheel containing section of a vehicle body. The wheel is contained in the wheel containing section. The airflow generator is configured to generate an airflow that flows from the wheel containing section toward outer side in a vehicle widthwise direction. The controller is configured to control the airflow generator.

An airflow adjusting apparatus to be installed in a vehicle includes an airflow generator and a controller. The airflow generator is provided on an inner surface of a wheel house or on a wheel. The wheel house provides a wheel containing section of a vehicle body. The wheel is contained in the wheel containing section. The airflow generator is configured to generate an airflow that flows from the wheel containing section toward outer side in a vehicle widthwise direction. The controller is configured to control the airflow generator.

A system can include a float, a winch, a line, and a collapsible fairing. The winch can be coupled to the float. The line can be associated with the winch, where the winch is configured to extend and retract the line. The collapsible fairing can surround the line. Extension and retraction of the line can cause the collapsible fairing to extend and collapse.

A system can include a float, a winch, a line, and a collapsible fairing. The winch can be coupled to the float. The line can be associated with the winch, where the winch is configured to extend and retract the line. The collapsible fairing can surround the line. Extension and retraction of the line can cause the collapsible fairing to extend and collapse.

[Object] To provide a noise reduction apparatus, an aircraft, and a noise reduction method capable of increasing the amount of noise reduction.

[Solving Means] The noise reduction apparatus 1 includes a porous plate 2 disposed to face a fluid flow, the porous plate 2 including a bend region 5 bent toward an upstream side of the fluid flow. The bend region 5 is provided at the end portion 6 of the porous plate 2, and has a concave R-shape on an upstream side of the fluid flow. Although the direction of the fluid flow is typically deflected toward the outside from the center of the porous plate 2 due to the porous plate 2, the deflected fluid easily passes through the porous plate 2 since the porous plate has the bend region 5. Thus, the shear layer of the fluid flow is weakened, the noise induced by the vortex is reduced, and it is possible to increase the reduction amount of noise.

An aerodynamically optimized drag-reduction appartus and method for optimal minimization of the drag-induced resistive forces upon a terrestrial vehicle, where the drag-induced resistive moments on wheel surfaces pivoting about the stationary point of ground contact are reduced, and the vehicle propulsive forces needed to countervail the resistive forces on the wheel are reduced. The drag reduction apparatus includes: a streamlined fairing or wind deflector positioned on a vehicle to shield the faster moving upper wheel surfaces from headwinds; an engine exhaust pipe disposed on a vehicle whereby exhaust gases deflect headwinds to shield the faster moving upper wheel surfaces of an automotive wheel; an automotive spoked wheel having streamlined oval-shaped wheel spokes; a wheel assembly with a streamlined tailfin rotatably attached to a wheel spoke; a wheel with a tapered spoke having a thin aerodynamic profile near the rim and tapering to a round profile toward the central hub; and a tire having streamlined tread blocks arranged in an aerodynamic pattern.

A vortex-induced vibration (VIV) suppression device including a body portion dimensioned to encircle an underlying tubular and a tail portion extending laterally outward from the body portion, the tail portion having a top end and a bottom end. The device further including an engaging member positioned at least at the top end or the bottom end of the body portion or the tail portion. The engaging member may be dimensioned to engage with an adjacent VIV suppression device.

A vortex-induced vibration (VIV) suppression device including a body portion dimensioned to encircle an underlying tubular and a tail portion extending laterally outward from the body portion, the tail portion having a top end and a bottom end. The device further including an engaging member positioned at least at the top end or the bottom end of the body portion or the tail portion. The engaging member may be dimensioned to engage with an adjacent VIV suppression device.

A turbulence generation system includes a vane assembly to direct airflow from a nozzle. The vane assembly includes at least two vertically oriented nozzle contraction vanes, a pair of vertically oriented nozzle exit vanes, and at least one horizontally oriented vane. The nozzle contraction vanes are located within the nozzle upstream of a nozzle air outlet. Each nozzle contraction vane rotationally moves independent of the other nozzle contraction vane to generate airflow pressure loss, turbulence and/or flow vectoring. The nozzle exit vanes are downstream of the air outlet and rotationally move to generate higher angles of dynamic yaw or a quick yaw input. The nozzle exit vanes are positioned laterally inward from first and second sidewalls of the nozzle. The horizontally oriented vane is positioned downstream of nozzle contraction vanes and upstream of the nozzle exit vanes and rotationally moves to generate up-wash or downwash.