TY - JOUR
T1 - Computational Fluid Dynamics Study of the Effect of Leg Position on Cyclist Aerodynamic Drag
AU - Griffith, Martin D.
AU - Crouch, Timothy
AU - Thompson, Mark C.
AU - Burton, David
AU - Sheridan, John
AU - Brown, Nicholas A.T.
PY - 2014/10
Y1 - 2014/10
N2 - An experimental and numerical analysis of cycling aerodynamics is presented. The cyclist is modeled experimentally by a mannequin at static crank angle; numerically, the cyclist is modeled using a computer aided design (CAD) reproduction of the geometry. Wind tunnel observation of the flow reveals a large variation of drag force and associated downstream flow structure with crank angle; at a crank angle of 15 deg, where the two thighs of the rider are aligned, a minimum in drag is observed. At a crank angle of 75 deg, where one leg is at full extension and the other is raised close to the torso, a maximum in drag is observed. Simulation of the flow using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) reproduces the observed variation of drag with crank angle, but underpredicts the experimental drag measurements by approximately 15%, probably at least partially due to simplification of the geometry of the cyclist and bicycle. Inspection of the wake flow for the two sets of results reveals a good match in the downstream flow structure. Numerical simulation also reveals the transient nature of the entire flow field in greater detail. In particular, it shows how the flow separates from the body of the cyclist, which can be related to changes in the overall drag.
AB - An experimental and numerical analysis of cycling aerodynamics is presented. The cyclist is modeled experimentally by a mannequin at static crank angle; numerically, the cyclist is modeled using a computer aided design (CAD) reproduction of the geometry. Wind tunnel observation of the flow reveals a large variation of drag force and associated downstream flow structure with crank angle; at a crank angle of 15 deg, where the two thighs of the rider are aligned, a minimum in drag is observed. At a crank angle of 75 deg, where one leg is at full extension and the other is raised close to the torso, a maximum in drag is observed. Simulation of the flow using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) reproduces the observed variation of drag with crank angle, but underpredicts the experimental drag measurements by approximately 15%, probably at least partially due to simplification of the geometry of the cyclist and bicycle. Inspection of the wake flow for the two sets of results reveals a good match in the downstream flow structure. Numerical simulation also reveals the transient nature of the entire flow field in greater detail. In particular, it shows how the flow separates from the body of the cyclist, which can be related to changes in the overall drag.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84905013776&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.mendeley.com/research/computational-fluid-dynamics-study-effect-leg-position-cyclist-aerodynamic-drag
U2 - 10.1115/1.4027428
DO - 10.1115/1.4027428
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84905013776
SN - 0098-2202
VL - 136
SP - 1
EP - 9
JO - Journal of Fluids Engineering, Transactions of the ASME
JF - Journal of Fluids Engineering, Transactions of the ASME
IS - 10
M1 - FE-13-1381
ER -