Aerodynamic drag in competitive tandem para-cycling: Road race versus time-trial positions

Mannion, Paul; Toparlar, Yasin; Blocken, Bert; Clifford, Eoghan; Andrianne, Thomas; Hajdukiewicz, Magdalena

doi:10.1016/j.jweia.2018.05.011

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Article (Scientific journals)

Aerodynamic drag in competitive tandem para-cycling: Road race versus time-trial positions

Mannion, Paul; Toparlar, Yasin; Blocken, Bert et al.

2018 • In Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, 179, p. 92-101

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

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https://hdl.handle.net/2268/226178

DOI
10.1016/j.jweia.2018.05.011

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Keywords :

Cycling; Tandem; Paralympic; Time-trial; Aerodynamics; Computational Fluid Dynamics; Wind tunnel

Abstract :

[en] An athlete's riding posture is a key element for aerodynamic drag in cycling. Tandem cycling has the complication of having two athletes in close proximity to each other on a single tandem bicycle. The complex flow-field between the pilot and stoker in tandem cycling presents new challenges for aerodynamic optimisation. Aerodynamic drag acting on two tandem road race setups and two track time-trial setups were analysed with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. For validation purposes, wind tunnel measurements were designed providing drag measurements from both tandem athletes simultaneously using a quarter-scale model. A max drag force deviation of 4.9% was found between the wind tunnel experiments and CFD simulations of the quarter-scale geometry. Full-scale CFD simulations of upright, crouched, time-trial and frame-clench tandem setups were performed. The drag force experienced by individual athletes in all investigated tandem setups was compared to that of solo riders to enhance understanding of the aerodynamic interaction between both tandem athletes. The most aerodynamic tandem setup was found to be the frame-clench setup which is unique to tandem cycling and had a CDA of 0.286m2, and could provide an advantage of 8.1 s over a standard time-trial setup for a 10 km timetrial event.

Disciplines :

Engineering, computing & technology: Multidisciplinary, general & others
Mechanical engineering
Aerospace & aeronautics engineering

Author, co-author :

Mannion, Paul

Toparlar, Yasin

Blocken, Bert

Clifford, Eoghan

Andrianne, Thomas ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'aérospatiale et mécanique > Interactions Fluide-Structure - Aérodynamique expérimentale

Hajdukiewicz, Magdalena

Language :

English

Title :

Aerodynamic drag in competitive tandem para-cycling: Road race versus time-trial positions

Publication date :

May 2018

Journal title :

Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics

ISSN :

0167-6105

eISSN :

1872-8197

Publisher :

Elsevier, Netherlands

Volume :

179

Pages :

92-101

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Available on ORBi :

since 03 July 2018

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