Numerical study of the aerodynamics of time-trial cycling helmets
The aerodynamic drag of three different time-trial cycling helmets is analyzed numerically from two different cyclist head positions. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) methods were used to investigate the detailed airflow patterns around the cyclist for a constant velocity of 15m/s without wind. CFD simulations were used to study the aerodynamic drag of the cyclist/helmet system which is closely related to the distribution of shear and pressure coefficients. We show that for a given head position, the helmet shape, by itself, has a weak effect on a cyclist`s aerodynamic performance (<1.5%). However, by varying head position, a cyclist significantly influences aerodynamic performance, the maximum difference between both positions being about 6.4%. CFD results have also shown that both helmet shape and head position significantly influence drag forces, pressure and wall shear stress distributions on the whole cyclist`s body due to the change in the near-wake behavior and in location of corresponding separation and attachment areas around the cyclist
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| Subjects: | |
|---|---|
| Notations: | endurance sports strength and speed sports sports facilities and sports equipment |
| Tagging: | Computational Fluid Dynamics Zeitfahren Helm |
| Published in: | Instrumentation Mesure Métrologie |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2019
|
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3166/i2m.16.1-4.33-50 |
| Volume: | 16 |
| Issue: | 1-4 |
| Pages: | 33-50 |
| Document types: | article |
| Level: | advanced |