In the US recently, one high end Japanese manufacturer  is running a TV
ad in which they show some of the techniques they have developed to
reduce noise. the roll over the (vehicle using virtual rotisserie) and
all the
flat floor surfaces have been embossed maybe 7 to 10 mm deep with a
bumpy pattern. This would certainly make the panel more rigid and also
less likely to reflect sound waves, but rather disperse them. Pretty
much like your underwater marine organisms! I think it creates a
boundary area of slower moving fluid that is also more plastic and
therefore slipperier.
Belly pans anyone? certainly could easily retro fit pans to non- syncros
in some areas.
Al Brase

Andrew Grebneff wrote:

>
> Often a ROUGH surface aids laminar flow. This is a tactic used by
> marine organisms to good effect.
>
> Glue little warts all over your van?
>