scholarly journals The effect of hand posture on swimming efficiency

2021 ◽  
Vol 62 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joris van den Berg ◽  
Rens Bazuin ◽  
Constantin Jux ◽  
Andrea Sciacchitano ◽  
Jerry Westerweel ◽  
...  

Abstract Our quest is for the thumb and finger positions that maximize drag in front crawl swimming and thus maximize propulsion efficiency. We focus on drag in a stationary flow. Swimming is in water, but using Reynolds similarity the drag experiments are done in a wind tunnel. We measure the forces on real-life models of a forearm with hands, flexing the thumb and fingers in various positions. We study the influence on drag of cupping the hand and flexing the thumb. We find that cupping the hand is detrimental for drag. Swimming is most efficient with a flat hand. Flexing the thumb has a small effect on the drag, such that the drag is largest for the opened (abducted) thumb. Flow structures around the hand are visualized using robotic volumetric particle image velocimetry. From the time-averaged velocity fields we reconstruct the pressure distribution on the hand. These pressures are compared to the result of a direct measurement. The reached accuracy of $$\approx$$ ≈  10% does not yet suffice to reproduce the small drag differences between the hand postures. Graphical Abstract

1999 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongsheng Zhang ◽  
Carl D. Meinhart

Abstract This paper presents experimental measurements and observations of instantaneous flow structures inside an inkjet printhead, using a micron-resolution Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) system to record visualized flows and calculate velocity fields. The PIV technique uses 700 nm diameter fluorescent flow-tracing particles, a pulsed Nd:YAG laser, an epi-fluorescent microscope and an interline-transfer CCD camera to record images of a flow at two successive instances in time. By measuring how far a set of particles move during a specified duration of time, an estimate of the local fluid velocity can be obtained. An electronic timing strategy has been developed to synchronize the PIV lasers, the CCD camera and the drop ejection system. An overall flow pattern during a 500 μs ejection cycle has been observed by phase-averaging hundreds of instantaneous velocity fields, which were recorded at 2–5 μs intervals throughout the cycle. A velocity field with spatial resolution of approximately 10 μm was obtained near the inkjet nozzle. Meniscus and nodes inside the printhead were also observed and recorded.


Author(s):  
R. Fernandez-Prats ◽  
F. J. Huera-Huarte

More than 90% of the thrust generated by thunniform swimmers is known to be produced by the oscillation of their caudal fin, and the rest by their caudal peduncle. We have designed an experiment in which we can mimic, in a simplified manner, the kinematics of swimmers that mainly use their caudal fin for propulsion. The set-up consists of a rectangular foil attached to a shaft that is controlled by a stepper motor, and the whole assembly can be towed in still water at different controllable speeds. With this system we can study the effect of different types of pitching on the hydrodynamic loads and the performance of the propulsion system. By changing the type of foil, the effects of the flexibility in the propulsion can also be analysed. Hydrodynamic loads were measured with a 6-axes balance, and the flow structures were investigated using a Digital Particle Image Velocimetry (DPIV). Loads and DPIV velocity fields were acquired synchronously.


Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1205
Author(s):  
Ruiqi Wang ◽  
Riqiang Duan ◽  
Haijun Jia

This publication focuses on the experimental validation of film models by comparing constructed and experimental velocity fields based on model and elementary experimental data. The film experiment covers Kapitza numbers Ka = 278.8 and Ka = 4538.6, a Reynolds number range of 1.6–52, and disturbance frequencies of 0, 2, 5, and 7 Hz. Compared to previous publications, the applied methodology has boundary identification procedures that are more refined and provide additional adaptive particle image velocimetry (PIV) method access to synthetic particle images. The experimental method was validated with a comparison with experimental particle image velocimetry and planar laser induced fluorescence (PIV/PLIF) results, Nusselt’s theoretical prediction, and experimental particle tracking velocimetry (PTV) results of flat steady cases, and a good continuity equation reproduction of transient cases proves the method’s fidelity. The velocity fields are reconstructed based on different film flow model velocity profile assumptions such as experimental film thickness, flow rates, and their derivatives, providing a validation method of film model by comparison between reconstructed velocity experimental data and experimental velocity data. The comparison results show that the first-order weighted residual model (WRM) and regularized model (RM) are very similar, although they may fail to predict the velocity field in rapidly changing zones such as the front of the main hump and the first capillary wave troughs.


2002 ◽  
Vol 2 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 47-55
Author(s):  
N.-S. Park ◽  
H. Park

Recognizing the significance of factual velocity fields in a rapid mixer, this study focuses on analyzing local velocity gradients in various mixer geometries with particle image velocimetry (PIV) and comparing the results of the analysis with the conventional G-value, for reviewing the roles of G-value in the current design and operation practices. The results of this study clearly show that many arguments and doubts are possible about the scientific correctness of G-value, and its current use. This is because the G-value attempts to represent the turbulent and complicated factual velocity field in a jar. Also, the results suggest that it is still a good index for representing some aspects of mixing condition, at least, mixing intensity. However, it cannot represent the distribution of velocity gradients in a jar, which is an important factor for mixing. This study as a result suggests developing another index for representing the distribution to be used with the G-value.


2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renqiang Xiong ◽  
J. N. Chung

Flow structures and pressure drops were investigated in rectangular serpentine micro-channels with miter bends which had hydraulic diameters of 0.209mm, 0.395mm and 0.549mm respectively. To evaluate the bend effect, the additional pressure drop due to the miter bend must be obtained. Three groups of micro-channels were fabricated to remove the inlet and outlet losses. A validated micro-particle image velocimetry (μPIV) system was used to achieve the flow structure in a serpentine micro-channel with hydraulic diameter of 0.173mm. The experimental results show the vortices around the outer and inner walls of the bend do not form when Re<100. Those vortices appear and continue to develop with the Re number when Re> 100-300, and the shape and size of the vortices almost remain constant when Re>1000. The bend loss coefficient Kb was observed to be related with the Re number when Re<100, with the Re number and channel size when Re>100. It almost keeps constant and changes in the range of ± 10% When Re is larger than some value in 1300-1500. And a size effect on Kb was also observed.


Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 3330
Author(s):  
Milan Sedlář ◽  
Pavel Procházka ◽  
Martin Komárek ◽  
Václav Uruba ◽  
Vladislav Skála

This article presents results of the experimental research and numerical simulations of the flow in a pumping system’s discharge object with the welded siphon. The laboratory simplified model was used in the study. Two stationary flow regimes characterized by different volume flow rates and water level heights have been chosen. The study concentrates mainly on the regions below and behind the siphon outlet. The mathematical modelling using advanced turbulence models has been performed. The free-surface flow has been carried out by means of the volume-of-fluid method. The experimental results obtained by the particle image velocimetry method have been used for the mathematical model validation. The evolution and interactions of main flow structures are analyzed using visualizations and the spectral analysis. The presented results show a good agreement of the measured and calculated complex flow topology and give a deep insight into the flow structures below and behind the siphon outlet. The presented methodology and results can increase the applicability and reliability of the numerical tools used for the design of the pump and turbine stations and their optimization with respect to the efficiency, lifetime and environmental demands.


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