(DW Look!)3M Reveals Successful Collaboration with BMW ORACLE Racing for 33rd America’s Cup Match

[Horton]

ST. PAUL, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--3M today announced its successful collaboration with BMW ORACLE Racing as an Official Supplier for the 33^rd America’s Cup Match in Valencia, Spain.

3M supplied BMW ORACLE Racing with an experimental riblet film, custom manufactured for this unique high speed racing vessel.

Brian Winke, 3M Marine global business manager, explained that, “3M has incorporated new technology advancements into 3M Drag Reduction Riblet Film. We can now more accurately design the most appropriate riblet film for each application according to the unique fluid dynamics requirements, resulting in more efficient energy use.”

3M Drag Reduction Riblet Film is based on the microreplication technology that 3M has utilized effectively in several industrial applications since Dennis Conner’s successful America’s Cup challenge in 1987.

“3M supported the last US team to challenge and win the America’s Cup and is proud to have supported Golden Gate Yacht Club’s victory some 23 years later,” added Winke.

Based on many published research studies, 3M says that the film can provide improvement in drag reduction in a passive manner for high speed vessels, without adding significant weight or complexity.

Manolo Ruiz de Elvira, BMW ORACLE Racing design team member, said, “The 3M technology makes an already fast boat even faster. Our hulls were more slippery and therefore moved more efficiently through the water than ever before.”

Winke adds that, “The use of 3M’s Riblet Film and other friction-reducing methods are not normally allowed under the sailing rules due to what was perceived as an unfair advantage. That position has recently been changed, enabling BMW ORACLE Racing to take full advantage of an existing and proven technology with which the sailing community is already familiar.”

3M’s Winke explains that, although riblet films are not available for sale at this time, 3M has the technology to develop and custom-manufacture specialized riblet films to achieve enhanced drag reduction performance for many product applications including marine and wind turbine blades.

For more information about 3M’s partnership with BMW ORACLE Racing, and 3M Drag Reduction Riblet Film in marine applications, please contact: Sam Lamers, 3M Marine marketing and sales manager, at (651)737-3618, or sclamers@mmm.com.

[Horton]

http://books.google.com/books?id=IAEAAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA43&lpg=PA43&dq=Riblet+dennis+conner&source=bl&ots=4wO_cY8SQ-&sig=PV6W2Le12bNTFrR8xGs30I8fdxY&hl=en&ei=RWZ1TNEIjcCzBrK47aYG&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CDQQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=Riblet%20dennis%20conner&f=false

 

[Horton]

http://ow.ly/2uKP1

[Horton]

http://ow.ly/2uKT0

[Horton]

http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/5-8/features/F_NASA_Goes_to_the_Olympics_prt.htm

[Horton]

http://valenciasailing.blogspot.com/2010/03/bmw-oracles-skin-friction-reduction.html

[DW]

First, it's cool that 3M will be some sort of sponsor for the boat.  Corporations displaying thier wares and technological prowess is a good thing and provides funds and products for competitors.  The concept of the riblet film is to keep the flow laminar along the entire surface of the hull and to minimize surface friction.  If you can't do that, one then trips it turbulent as soon as possible.  Given how much effort is given to the surface shape and finish, it is the former condition they are aimed at. Once you have laminar flow, reducing skin friction is the goal and if you can do that by minimizing surface contact area the better.

[Horton]

I am thinking that the steps in the HO CO-X and Connelly V are acting like  HUGE Riblets. OK,  I understand this is not true from an Fluid Dynamic point of view but ... Any idea where I can get some Riblet tape?

FYI looks like I really am going to Modena! So cool.

[DW]

There is some tape that has perforations in it available, I will have to scratch the brain to remember where (Pegasus comes to mind).  The bottom of the fuel cell on a Cup car is not simply a piece of flat aluminum!  Modena should be a blast, and you can go see where those red cars are made.

[skiron07]

very cool stuff:

http://bmworacleracingblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/3m-riblet-technology.html

[Thomas Wayne]

I think this is [directionally] the opposite of the Co-X idea.  Listening to the video, it sounds like the "riblets" run somewhat along the length of the hull, rather than perpendicular to the direction of travel - as opposed to the sideways steps of the Co-X / Connelly"V".

It reminds me of something my older brother once said in the 70's: "Corduroy rubbers*... a groovy kind of love."

TW

(* I assume he was referring to galoshes...")

[skiron07]

I believe in both instances the ribs or riblets are aligned in a 45 deg angle in relation to direction so that the molecules are channeled or guided to run in parallel directions to themselves and thus reduce friction...

probably similar (to guess) in what we do with our nuc subs

 

[eleeski]

At skiing speeds and Renolds numbers, skis probably need the transition to turbulent flow. 

Some 24 grit sandpaper and a bit of wallboard texture will energize that boundary layer fine.

We don't wax skis for a reason (the skis don't work well waxed). A super smooth surface is not optimal. But if you wanted to try some surfaces, put a thick layer of wax on the ski. Cork it smooth and use a comb to scratch the wax with the desired pattern. When you are done with the experiment, clean off the wax and the ski will be none the worse. The problem arises if you really like a specific surface - how do you make it permanent? Scratched Superfil? Careful or the skis will look like they have wallboard texture!

Eric

[Drago]

I thought for sure they were using Velcro instead of Kevlar thread.

[Thomas Wayne]

 

From my Oddball Patents file, submitted without additional comment:

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n293/ThomasWayne_2006/Oddskidesign.jpgTW