SSS 2012-02-01（在线收听）

 It's tough to be a machine in the desert. Particles of dirty sands walk their way in to moving parts where they break turbine's motors pipes on other equipment.To avoid the costly warranty, researches are taking lessons from a desert native, the yellow fat scorpion. Scorpion protect their bodies with exo-skeletons in order to minimize rubbing from air-born sand. The pattern on this armor modify the way that air flow over the scorpion's back. The researches scan the scorpion's body and use the natural pattern in inspiration for a variety of surfaces. With the computer model to simulate the airflow over the digital surfaces and wind tunnel for testing the physical samples, the researches are trying to develop the best texture for avoiding sand damage. Their work is in the Material Science Journal Annual. Although all texture surfaces feel better than smooth ones, one type of pattern resist the erosion best. Small dews cut the 30 degree angle to direction of the airflow. The machine whose surfaces are engraved with this texture should fight off the erosion like the scorpion do, where smoother equipment comes to the sting of sand.