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Flow topology in the wake of a cyclist and its effect on aerodynamic drag

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 April 2014

T. N. Crouch ,
D. Burton ,
N. A. T. Brown ,
M. C. Thompson  and
J. Sheridan
T. N. Crouch*
Affiliation:
Fluids Laboratory for Aeronautical and Industrial Research (FLAIR), Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
D. Burton
Affiliation:
Fluids Laboratory for Aeronautical and Industrial Research (FLAIR), Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
N. A. T. Brown
Affiliation:
Australian Institute of Sport, Belconnen, Canberra, 2617, Australia
M. C. Thompson
Affiliation:
Fluids Laboratory for Aeronautical and Industrial Research (FLAIR), Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
J. Sheridan
Affiliation:
Fluids Laboratory for Aeronautical and Industrial Research (FLAIR), Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
*
†Email address for correspondence: [email protected]
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Abstract

Three-dimensional flows around a full-scale cyclist mannequin were investigated experimentally to explain the large variations in aerodynamic drag that are measured as the legs are positioned around the $360^\circ $ crank cycle. It is found that the dominant mechanism affecting drag is not the small variation in frontal surface area over the pedal stroke but rather due to large changes in the flow structure over the crank cycle. This is clearly shown by a series of detailed velocity field wake surveys and skin friction flow visualizations. Two characteristic flow regimes are identified, corresponding to symmetrical low-drag and asymmetrical high-drag regimes, in which the primary feature of the wake is shown to be a large trailing streamwise vortex pair, orientated asymmetrically in the centre plane of the mannequin. These primary flow structures in the wake are the dominant mechanism driving the variation in drag throughout the pedal stroke. Topological critical points have been identified on the suction surfaces of the mannequin’s back and are discussed with velocity field measurements to elucidate the time-average flow topologies, showing the primary flow structures of the low- and high-drag flow regimes. The proposed flow topologies are then related to the measured surface pressures acting on the suction surface of the mannequin’s back. These measurements show that most of the variation in drag is due to changes in the pressure distribution acting on the lower back, where the large-scale flow structures having the greatest impact on drag develop.

JFM classification

Aerodynamics: Aerodynamics Wakes/Jets: Wakes/Jets
Type
Papers
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 748 , 10 June 2014 , pp. 5 - 35
Copyright
© 2014 Cambridge University Press 

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Crouch et al. supplementary movie

Surface pressure coefficient distributions showing the development of surface pressures throughout the crank cycle.

Download Crouch et al. supplementary movie(Video)
Video 2.9 MB

Crouch et al. supplementary movie

Contours of out of plane streamwise vorticity throughout a full pedal stroke.

Download Crouch et al. supplementary movie(Video)
Video 5.3 MB

Crouch et al. supplementary movie

Three dimensional representation of the drag map in the wake of the mannequin, coloured by intensity of total drag. Drag maps represent the integrand of Maskell's equation evaluated at each probe measurement point in the wake normalised between 0-1 by the maximum value of the integrand measured throughout the crank cycle.

Download Crouch et al. supplementary movie(Video)
Video 1.6 MB