LAPP Australia sponsors award at AUSSEF

LAPP Australia Quality Systems Coordinator, Justin Lim, right, congratulates PLC Sydney student Lily Rofail, left, on being chosen to represent Australia as part of the Australian Science and Engineering Fair (AUSSEF) team. Lily’s project used the drag-reducing properties of shark skin to create a solution to reduce drag on heavy vehicles, thereby cutting carbon emissions and fuel expenditure.

Bite-sized brilliance:

LAPP-sponsored student mimics shark skin to cut drag on heavy vehicles.

PLC Sydney year 10 student Lily Rofail has reached the final round of the Australian Science and Engineering Fair (AUSSEF) for her clever submission on utilising the drag-reducing properties of shark skin to similarly reduce drag on heavy vehicles. Cable, connection, and industrial automation specialist, LAPP Australia, has sponsored Lily, who hopes that her research can help the world’s efforts towards Net Zero emissions by reducing the aerodynamic drag on heavy vehicles, thereby “lowering both environmental impacts and overall fuel expenditure”. LAPP Australia Managing Director, Simon Pullinger, says it’s fantastic to see the next generation of Australian innovators coming up with such clever ideas, and pursuing STEM fields. “If Lily’s project is anything to go by, Australian engineering has a bright future. Her, and the other AUSSEF finalists have come up with brilliant, practical ideas that have real world impacts,” he said. “LAPP is committed to supporting the next generation of problem-solvers. Lily’s project aligns with our values around sustainability and real-world engineering solutions.”

Nature-inspired, future-focused

Lily’s project takes inspiration from nature to derive a solution that could be implemented on truck and heavy vehicle bodies to reduce drag.

“My project investigated the use of a new aerodynamic modification, namely shark-denticle-inspired vortex generators,” explains Lily.

“The shark-denticle-inspired vortex generators used in my investigation are metal attachments inspired by the shape of nurse shark denticles (a shark adaptation that reduces drag in water). They were placed on the rear of the upper and side surfaces of a model truck and tested in a wind tunnel alone and in combination with a number of pre-existing modifications,” she says.

“The results proved that the shark denticle-inspired vortex generators result in a significant and independent reduction in drag. The shark denticle inspired vortex generators serve as a solution that is easily transferable, cost- effective and can be applied to both existing and new heavy vehicles.”

International competition

Lily will join 10 other students selected by AUSSEF to compete at the international Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) from May 10-16, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio.

“Last year’s representatives performed brilliantly, and knowing the quality of entries from Lily and the other Australian representatives, LAPP Australia is backing the team to do well in 2025,” says Pullinger.