Key result
CFD analysis shows swimmer hand and forearm drag maximizes at a 90-degree angle of attack.
Why the study?
Hydrodynamic characteristics of an elite swimmer hand and forearm model in different orientations were analyzed using three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics techniques.
Computational fluid dynamics analysis demonstrates that drag forces peak at a 90° angle of attack, while lift forces contribute significantly at 45°, informing optimal swimming biomechanics.
May guide hand positioning in swimming technique; leaves open translation to in-water performance gains.
The purpose of this study was to analyze the hydrodynamic characteristics of a realistic model of an elite swimmer hand/forearm using three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics techniques. A three-dimensional domain was designed to simulate the fluid flow around a swimmer hand and forearm model in different orientations (0°, 45°, and 90° for the three axes Ox, Oy and Oz). The hand/forearm model was obtained through computerized tomography scans. Steady-state analyses were performed using the commercial code Fluent. The drag coefficient presented higher values than the lift coefficient for all model orientations. The drag coefficient of the hand/forearm model increased with the angle of attack, with the maximum value of the force coefficient corresponding to an angle of attack of 90°. The drag coefficient obtained the highest value at an orientation of the hand plane in which the model was directly perpendicular to the direction of the flow. An important contribution of the lift coefficient was observed at an angle of attack of 45°, which could have an important role in the overall propulsive force production of the hand and forearm in swimming phases, when the angle of attack is near 45°.
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Marinho et al. (2011) studied Swimming biomechanics. Three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation was evaluated on Hydrodynamic characteristics (drag and lift coefficients). Computational fluid dynamics analysis of a swimmer's hand and forearm showed that the drag coefficient increased with the angle of attack, reaching a maximum at 90 degrees.
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