Textured leading edge for aerospace and nautical structures

A structure that moves at high speed through a fluid, the structure comprising:

• a first surface area on the structure, the first surface area being positioned on a leading edge of the structure to move at a high speed through a fluid with a flow direction of the fluid passing over the first surface area during operation of the structure;
• and,
• a plurality of grooves formed on the first surface area, each groove of the plurality of grooves having a same configuration with a length dimension between a first end edge and an opposite second end edge of the groove and with a width dimension between a first side edge and an opposite second side edge of the groove, the plurality of grooves being arranged end to end and side by side with the length dimensions of the plurality of grooves aligned with the flow direction of the fluid passing over the first surface area and with first end edges of some immediately adjacent side by side grooves being spaced in the flow direction from each other and with second end edges of the immediately adjacent side by side grooves being spaced in the flow direction from each other, the plurality of grooves being positioned on the first surface area where with the first surface area moving at high speed through the fluid the grooves alter the flow direction of the fluid contacting the grooves and contacting the first surface area and thereby reduce erosion of the first surface area by the fluid.

A textured leading edge of an airfoil comprising:

• a first surface area on the airfoil, the first surface area being positioned on the airfoil to be a first surface on the airfoil to move at high speed through a fluid with a flow direction of the fluid passing over the first surface area before any other surface of the airfoil during operation of a structure comprising the airfoil;
• and,
• a plurality of grooves recessed into the first surface area, each groove of the plurality of grooves having a same configuration with a length dimension between a first end edge and a opposite second end edge of the groove and with a width dimension between a first side edge and an opposite second side edge of groove, the plurality of grooves being arranged end to end and side by side with the length dimensions of the plurality of grooves aligned with the flow direction of the fluid passing over the first surface area and with first end edges of some immediately adjacent side by side grooves being spaced in the flow direction from each other and with second end edges of the immediately adjacent side by side grooves being spaced in the flow direction from each other, the plurality of grooves being positioned in the first surface area where with the first surface area moving at high speed through the fluid, the grooves alter the flow direction of the fluid contacting the grooves and contacting the first surface area and thereby reduce erosion of the first surface area by the fluid.