A Novel Approach for Skin Suit Aerodynamic Optimization Using Local Momentum Deficit

A new approach is introduced to evaluate the potential drag reduction by skin suit design in speed sport. The approach relies upon local flow information measured in the wake of a cyclist mannequin. Lagrangian Particle Tracking is employed to measure the distribution of time-average streamwise velocity in a cross-plane of 30 × 100 cm2 behind the...

An assessment of the Ring of Fire approach for indoor and outdoor on-site sports aerodynamic investigation

A procedure is proposed to reconstruct the instantaneous velocity field from full particle trajectories in a data assimilation framework that includes the vorticity transport equation. The technique is christened as time-segment assimilation (TSA). The work addresses the common problem of low seeding concentration in 3D experiments, usuallThe...

Drag resolution of a PIV wake rake for transiting models

The accuracy of the “PIV wake rake” method to measure the drag of transiting objects is evaluated. Tomographic Particle Image Velocimetry measurements are conducted on a sphere towed at different speeds, within a Reynolds number range where the drag coefficient is constant. In contrast to PIV wake rake application on steady models in wind...

Aerodynamic drag of transiting objects by large-scale tomographic-PIV

Experiments are conducted that obtain the aerodynamic drag of a sphere towed within a rectangular duct from PIV. The drag force is obtained invoking the time-average momentum equation within a control volume in a frame of reference moving with the object. The sphere with 0.1 m diameter is towed at velocity of 1.5 m/s, corresponding to Re = 10...

Evaluation of aerodynamic drag of a full-scale cyclist model by large-scale tomographic-PIV

Experiments are conducted to determine the drag of a full-scale cyclist model in a wind tunnel at 4 m/s. The aerodynamic drag is evaluated from tomo-PIV measurements in the wake of the model applying the conservation of momentum within a control volume. The measurements are conducted in a thin volume of 100 x 170 x 3 cubic centimeters using...

Large-scale tomo-PIV for on-site drag analysis in speed sports

Large-scale tomographic Particle Image Velocimetry is proposed as a tool for the on-site aerodynamic investigation in speed sports. The ring-of-fire concept is presented, which relies upon a tomographic PIV system used during the training of athletes in speed sports. The system consists of a short tunnel installed in a velodrome, through which...