Chinese Scientists Introduce ‘Shark Skin’ Structures to Next-Gen Fighter Jet Engines

Chinese researchers have achieved a significant technological breakthrough by developing a new 3D-printed structure for turbofan engines that resembles shark skin.

This innovative “shark skin” design is poised to enhance the efficiency of turbofan engines, which are used in the propulsion of commercial planes, potentially revolutionizing the aviation industry.

‘Shark Skin’ design lowers fuel consumption

The new shark skin structures are designed to glide through the air with reduced friction, thereby decreasing drag—an aerodynamic force that slows down an aircraft by acting in the opposite direction of its motion—by up to 10 percent.

This improvement in aerodynamics not only boosts performance but also lowers fuel consumption, making the engines more energy efficient.

The breakthrough is based on high-strength, large-scale, titanium alloy, precision 3D printing technology. This advancement is expected to help China “catch up to, and even surpass” the United States and its allies in the race to develop next-generation aviation engines, according to Zhang Shaping, the project lead scientist at the AECC Sichuan Gas Turbine Establishment.

US Faces New Competition

While both the United States and China continue to invest heavily in aircraft engine development, viewing each other as geopolitical rivals, China’s advancements in propulsion technologies are drawing significant attention.

However, the researchers acknowledge that the 3D printing technology still faces considerable challenges in achieving mass production.

The current ultra-fast laser melting additive manufacturing technology has achieved a precision of 3 micrometers.

Nevertheless, the stress and deformation caused by rapid heating and cooling during the material’s melting and solidification process remain significant challenges for factories.

Despite these hurdles, the researchers are optimistic about the future impact of this technology.

They believe that the shark skin-like structures will revolutionize the aviation industry in the near future, offering a glimpse into more efficient and advanced aircraft propulsion systems.