A floating structure for transport is presented, formed by a train arrangement of rotary bodies of revolution that reduces the drag of same during sailing, the train arrangement of rotary bodies being formed by a front body, intermediate bodies and a rear body that have rotation synchronized with the speed of travel of the structure, the intermediate bodies of revolution being connected together by longitudinal rotation shafts by connections secured to an upper platform, while the longitudinal rotation shafts of the front body and the rear body are connected to the rotation shafts of adjacent bodies by hinges, which are pivotably connected to an end of draft-adjustor, pivotably connected at their other ends to the upper platform, the longitudinal rotation shafts being disposed perpendicular to the structure's travel direction and associated with actuators. The rotary bodies are separated by a distance of approximately 5% or less of their diameter.

The invention relates to a vessel for operating on a body of water comprising: a non-planing hull having a waterline and a longitudinal direction with a forward portion, an aft portion, and a central portion, the hull being configured to have the aft portion with a smaller water displacement relative to a water displacement at the central portion; and an aft foil affixed to the aft hull portion with one or more connecting members, and below the surface of the water, and spaced from the hull, the aft foil having a span, a chord, and a leading edge and a trailing edge relative to a forward direction, wherein the leading edge of the aft foil is tilted at a downward angle relative to the horizontal, wherein the aft foil has a chord and profile in longitudinal cross section, with a configuration to provide a lifting force, the tilt angle of the chord of the aft foil being measured with respect to the horizontal, and wherein the aft foil is oriented to provide a continuous, upward, forwardly directed component of the lifting force.

This disclosure includes apparatuses and methods for directing fluid. Some apparatuses include a frame configured to be coupled to a surface of a structure and a plurality of fins configured to be coupled to the frame, each having a width, a length greater than the width, and a bottom surface, wherein, when the frame is coupled to the surface of the structure and the fins are coupled to the frame, the bottom surface of at least one of the fins is angularly disposed at a non-perpendicular angle relative to the surface of the structure such that the fin redirects fluid that contacts the bottom surface of the fin away from the surface of the structure. In some apparatuses, the frame includes a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is configured to be coupled to the surface of the structure such that the second end is free.

Wettable structures that retain liquid layers are defined at surfaces of substrates. The wettable structures include grooves or ridges that are spaced apart by between 10 nm and 10 m and can be defined in substrate or in a layer formed on a surface of the substrate. In typical examples, wettable structures are defined with hydrophobic materials or at hydrophobic surfaces and produce hydrophilic surfaces.

Wettable structures that retain liquid layers are defined at surfaces of substrates. The wettable structures include grooves or ridges that are spaced apart by between 10 nm and 10 m and can be defined in substrate or in a layer formed on a surface of the substrate. In typical examples, wettable structures are defined with hydrophobic materials or at hydrophobic surfaces and produce hydrophilic surfaces.

The invention provides a solution for inadequate boundary layer testing methods. The invention includes a uniquely configured multi-module concentric loop cycling water past a testing module to obtain real-time values and variables to use in CFD calculations. The invention is comprised of various sections, specifically designed to support the entire system. The system includes: one or more water reservoirs/degassing tanks, high-capacity water pumps, water stream straightener(s), stable flow section, air induction ports, viewing ports, test modules containing test surfaces designed to measure friction and pressure of a passing water or air/water stream. The present invention includes one or more sensors on the test surface(s) that convey conditions to one or more computers that may receive, store, process and send interpretations to one or more visual monitors on or near the invention in real time.

The invention provides a solution for inadequate boundary layer testing methods. The invention includes a uniquely configured multi-module concentric loop cycling water past a testing module to obtain real-time values and variables to use in CFD calculations. The invention is comprised of various sections, specifically designed to support the entire system. The system includes: one or more water reservoirs/degassing tanks, high-capacity water pumps, water stream straightener(s), stable flow section, air induction ports, viewing ports, test modules containing test surfaces designed to measure friction and pressure of a passing water or air/water stream. The present invention includes one or more sensors on the test surface(s) that convey conditions to one or more computers that may receive, store, process and send interpretations to one or more visual monitors on or near the invention in real time.

An object or a vehicle is disclosed that is configured for moving through a fluid or for relative movement of a fluid past the object, the fluid comprising air or water, the object or vehicle further comprising: a structure having a surface, wherein the surface is exposed to the fluid as the vehicle moves through the fluid; and the surface having a surface texture comprising a wave structure transverse to a principal direction of flow of the fluid over the surface, wherein the surface texture is configured to reduce skin-friction drag on the vehicle or object. A material is disclosed that is configured for use on a surface of a vehicle for the purpose of reducing skin-friction drag. A method is disclosed for reducing skin-friction drag on a vehicle, the method comprising forming a wavelike pattern on a surface of a structure.