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
© Copyright 2019 Instrumentation Mesure Métrologie. Kaikki oikeudet pidätetään.

Aiheet: pyöräily ratapyöräily väline aerodynamiikka pää
Aihealueet: kestävyys urheilu voima ja nopeus urheilu urheilutilat ja urheiluvälineet
Tagging: Fließdynamik Computational Fluid Dynamics Zeitfahren Helm
DOI: 10.3166/i2m.16.1-4.33-50
Julkaisussa: Instrumentation Mesure Métrologie
Julkaistu: 2019
Vuosikerta: 16
Numero: 1-4
Sivuja: 33-50
Julkaisutyypit: artikkeli
Kieli: englanti (kieli)
Taso: kehittynyt