scholarly journals Aerodynamic analysis of uphill drafting in cycling

2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
T. van Druenen ◽  
B. Blocken
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Sensitivity Analyses ◽  
Air Resistance ◽  
Wind Tunnel Measurements ◽  
Aerodynamic Effect ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Dynamics Simulations

AbstractSome teams aiming for victory in a mountain stage in cycling take control in the uphill sections of the stage. While drafting, the team imposes a high speed at the front of the peloton defending their team leader from opponent’s attacks. Drafting is a well-known strategy on flat or descending sections and has been studied before in this context. However, there are no systematic and extensive studies in the scientific literature on the aerodynamic effect of uphill drafting. Some studies even suggested that for gradients above 7.2% the speeds drop to 17 km/h and the air resistance can be neglected. In this paper, uphill drafting is analyzed and quantified by means of drag reductions and power reductions obtained by computational fluid dynamics simulations validated with wind tunnel measurements. It is shown that even for gradients above 7.2%, drafting can yield substantial benefits. Drafting allows cyclists to save over 7% of power on a slope of 7.5% at a speed of 6 m/s. At a speed of 8 m/s, this reduction can exceed 16%. Sensitivity analyses indicate that significant power savings can be achieved, also with varying bicycle, cyclist, road and environmental characteristics.

scholarly journals A comparative study of methods to simulate aerodynamic flow beneath a high-speed train

2017 ◽  
Vol 232 (5) ◽  
pp. 1464-1482 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Soper ◽  
Dominic Flynn ◽  
Chris Baker ◽  
Adam Jackson ◽  
Hassan Hemida
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Numerical Simulations ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Model Tests ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
High Speed Train ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Dynamics Simulations

The introduction of dedicated high-speed railway lines around the world has led to issues associated with running trains at very high speeds. Aerodynamic effects proportionally increase with train speed squared; consequently, at higher speeds aerodynamic effects will be significantly greater than those of trains travelling at lower speeds. On ballasted track beds, the phenomenon in which ballast particles become airborne during the passage of a high-speed train has led to the need for understanding the processes involved in train and track interaction (both aerodynamical and geotechnical). The difficulty in making full-scale aerodynamic measurements beneath a high-speed train has created the requirement to be able to accurately simulate these complex aerodynamic flows at the model scale. In this study, the results of moving-model tests and numerical simulations were analysed to determine the performance of each method for simulating the aerodynamic flow underneath a high-speed train. Validation was provided for both cases by juxtaposing the results against those from full-scale measurements. The moving-model tests and numerical simulations were performed at the 1/25th scale. Horizontal velocities from the moving-model tests and computational fluid dynamics simulations were mostly comparable except those obtained close to the ballast. In this region, multi-hole aerodynamic probes were unable to accurately measure velocities. The numerical simulations were able to resolve the flow to much smaller turbulent scales than could be measured in the experiments and showed an overshoot in peak velocity magnitudes. Pressure and velocity magnitudes were found to be greater in the numerical simulations than in the experimental tests. This is thought to be due to the influence of ballast stones in the experimental studies allowing the flow to diffuse through them, whereas in the computational fluid dynamics simulations, the flow stagnated on a smooth non-porous surface. Additional validation of standard deviations and turbulence intensities found good agreement between the experimental data but an overshoot in the numerical simulations. Both moving model and computational fluid dynamics techniques were shown to be able to replicate the flow development beneath a high-speed train. These techniques could therefore be used as a method to model underbody flow with a view to train homologation.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Active Heat Sinks Design under Forced Convection—Effect of Geometric and Boundary Parameters

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 2041
Author(s):  
Eva C. Silva ◽  
Álvaro M. Sampaio ◽  
António J. Pontes
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
Pressure Drop ◽  
Forced Convection ◽  
Thermal Performance ◽  
Heat Sinks ◽  
Trapezoidal Shape ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Dynamics Simulations

This study shows the performance of heat sinks (HS) with different designs under forced convection, varying geometric and boundary parameters, via computational fluid dynamics simulations. Initially, a complete and detailed analysis of the thermal performance of various conventional HS designs was taken. Afterwards, HS designs were modified following some additive manufacturing approaches. The HS performance was compared by measuring their temperatures and pressure drop after 15 s. Smaller diameters/thicknesses and larger fins/pins spacing provided better results. For fins HS, the use of radial fins, with an inverted trapezoidal shape and with larger holes was advantageous. Regarding pins HS, the best option contemplated circular pins in combination with frontal holes in their structure. Additionally, lattice HS, only possible to be produced by additive manufacturing, was also studied. Lower temperatures were obtained with a hexagon unit cell. Lastly, a comparison between the best HS in each category showed a lower thermal resistance for lattice HS. Despite the increase of at least 38% in pressure drop, a consequence of its frontal area, the temperature was 26% and 56% lower when compared to conventional pins and fins HS, respectively, and 9% and 28% lower when compared to the best pins and best fins of this study.

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