Application of theoretical principles to swimsuit drag reduction |
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| Authors: | D R Pendergast J C Mollendorf R Cuviello A C Termin |
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| Institution: | (1) Center for Research & Education in Special Environments, Departments of Physiology & Biophysics, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering and Athletics, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, USA;(2) Center for Research & Education in Special Environments School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, 124 Sherman Hall University at Buffalo, 3435 Main Street, 14214 Buffalo, NY, USA |
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| Abstract: | This study investigated the basic fluid mechanics associated with the hydrodynamic drag of a human. The components of drag
(frictionD
SF, pressureD
P and waveD
W) on a human swimmer were analysed by applying classical fluid dynamic fundamentals. General methods of reducing drag were
considered and the most probable method identified, applied and tested on swimsuit hydrodynamic drag. This study employed
turbulators, either one (upper back) or three (across the upper back, the chest and across the buttocks), that were compared
to an identical full body suit with no turbulators. Male and female elite competitive swimmers (n = 7 each) were towed in an annular pool to determine passive drag at speeds from 0.4 to 2.2 m s−1. The total drag was reduced by 11–12% by one turbulator and 13–16% by three turbulators. The total drag was decomposed intoD
SF, DP andD
W to determine the mechanisms responsible for the reduced total drag by the turbulators. The presence of the turbulators did
not significantly increase friction or wave drag; however, flow was attached to the body as there was a significant reduction
in pressure drag (19–41%), with the greatest reduction being for three turbulators (chest, back, buttocks). This study demonstrated
the importance of pressure drag in determining total drag at high human swimming speeds, and that drag reducing technology
can significantly reduce it, in this case by appropriately sized and placed turbulators. |
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| Keywords: | competitive swimming swimsuits trip wires drag friction drag pressure drag wave drag |
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