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.

The embodied invention is a foldable aerodynamic drag reducing plate assembly that is installed on shipping container ends. The drag reducing plates are in two parts and designed to incorporate hinges and attaching components specifically for the spacing and position of corner lifting holes that are part of a standard container shipping car. The drag reducing plates include locking bars that provide stability when a train is moving at high speed. Also, connecting clips, stiffening channels, or hinges are used to combine two halves of the drag reducing plate design into a single, stiffened unit.

The embodied invention is a foldable aerodynamic drag reducing plate assembly that is installed on shipping container ends. The drag reducing plates are in two parts and designed to incorporate hinges and attaching components specifically for the spacing and position of corner lifting holes that are part of a standard container shipping car. The drag reducing plates include locking bars that provide stability when a train is moving at high speed. Also, connecting clips, stiffening channels, or hinges are used to combine two halves of the drag reducing plate design into a single, stiffened unit.

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.

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.

A longitudinally tapered wheel spoke having a thin aerodynamic cross-sectional profile proximate to the wheel rim and tapering to a round profile toward the central hub, with the tapered section optimized to minimize drag against a combined headwind and crosswind impinging upon the primary vehicle-drag-inducing uppermost region of the wheel assembly.

Vortex Induced Vibration (VIV) suppression strakes, in particular VIV suppression strakes are arranged on subsea pipelines. A VIV suppression strake assembly includes a strake fin support shell that is configured to be arranged against the outer surface of a section of pipe and at least one strake fin having a fin tip and a fin base. The strake fin support shell includes an aperture that is configured for inserting the fin therein, and the fin is provided at the fin base with an anchor, which anchor is configured for engaging the fin support shell on the pipe side of the aperture. The aperture is a slot dimensioned to allow the fin to be inserted in the slot from the pipe side of the slot with the fin tip leading until the fin base engages the shell.

An automobile comprising a cooling duct that extends to underneath the automobile to channel cooling air to a component of the automobile when the automobile is in motion is provided. A restriction located within the cooling duct that is moveable from a first position, in which airflow to the component is substantially unimpeded, to a second position in which the airflow to the component is substantially impeded, when the automobile is in motion is further provided. The automobile generates more downforce when the restriction is in the second position versus the first position. A control unit configured to select the position of the restriction to control the downforce generated by the automobile if the temperature of the component is below a predetermined level, and to select the first position for the restriction if the temperature of the component is above the predetermined level, is also provided.

An automobile comprising a cooling duct that extends to underneath the automobile to channel cooling air to a component of the automobile when the automobile is in motion is provided. A restriction located within the cooling duct that is moveable from a first position, in which airflow to the component is substantially unimpeded, to a second position in which the airflow to the component is substantially impeded, when the automobile is in motion is further provided. The automobile generates more downforce when the restriction is in the second position versus the first position. A control unit configured to select the position of the restriction to control the downforce generated by the automobile if the temperature of the component is below a predetermined level, and to select the first position for the restriction if the temperature of the component is above the predetermined level, is also provided.

There is provided a flow-resistance reducing laminate comprising: a substrate; and a flow-resistance reducing layer formed on the substrate, wherein the flow-resistance reducing layer has a surface portion facing a liquid, wherein a flow interface is formed between the liquid and the laminate upon relative movement between the liquid and the laminate, wherein the flow-resistance reducing layer is configured such that an air layer defines the flow interface.