Piston body for an engine having surface features for interacting with boundary layer

An engine body, comprising:

• a piston;
• a piston body;
• an expansion chamber, the piston body defining a dome structure at the expansion chamber, the piston being a domed piston corresponding to the dome structure;
• and
• a heater body positioned at an outer end of the expansion chamber adjacent to the dome structure,
• wherein the piston body further defines an exterior surface corresponding to a shape of the dome structure, the exterior surface comprising a plurality of surface features protruding therefrom and being arranged between the heater body and the dome structure, and
• wherein the plurality of surface features decrease a heat load across the exterior surface of the piston body.

A method of manufacturing an engine body, the method comprising:

• forming a piston body defining an expansion chamber, a dome structure at the expansion chamber, and an exterior surface corresponding to a shape of the dome structure;
• forming a plurality of surface features on the exterior surface;
• positioning a piston at least partially within the expansion chamber of the piston body to form a piston assembly, the piston being a domed piston corresponding to the dome structure;
• and
• securing a heater body at an outer end of the expansion chamber adjacent to the dome structure such that the plurality of surface features are arranged between the heater body and the dome structure.