scholarly journals High-speed gallop locomotion in the Thoroughbred racehorse. II. The effect of incline on centre of mass movement and mechanical energy fluctuation

2008 ◽  
Vol 211 (6) ◽  
pp. 945-956 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. J. Parsons ◽  
T. Pfau ◽  
M. Ferrari ◽  
A. M. Wilson
2014 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 129-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wiesław Chwała ◽  
Andrzej Klimek ◽  
Wacław Mirek

Abstract The aim of the study was to assess energy cost and total external work (total energy) depending on the speed of race walking. Another objective was to determine the contribution of external work to total energy cost of walking at technical, threshold and racing speed in elite competitive race walkers. The study involved 12 competitive race walkers aged years with 6 to 20 years of experience, who achieved a national or international sports level. Their aerobic endurance was determined by means of a direct method involving an incremental exercise test on the treadmill. The participants performed three tests walking each time with one of the three speeds according to the same protocol: an 8-minute walk with at steady speed was followed by a recovery phase until the oxygen debt was repaid. To measure exercise energy cost, an indirect method based on the volume of oxygen uptake was employed. The gait of the participants was recorded using the 3D Vicon opto-electronic motion capture system. Values of changes in potential energy and total kinetic energy in a gate cycle were determined based on vertical displacements of the centre of mass. Changes in mechanical energy amounted to the value of total external work of muscles needed to accelerate and lift the centre of mass during a normalised gait cycle. The values of average energy cost and of total external work standardised to body mass and distance covered calculated for technical speed, threshold and racing speeds turned out to be statistically significant. The total energy cost ranged from 51.2 kJ.m-1 during walking at technical speed to 78.3 kJ.m-1 during walking at a racing speed. Regardless of the type of speed, the total external work of muscles accounted for around 25% of total energy cost in race walking. Total external work mainly increased because of changes in the resultant kinetic energy of the centre of mass movement.


1999 ◽  
Vol 121 (2) ◽  
pp. 319-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teng Guilan ◽  
Fu Haibo ◽  
Zhou Weiyi

Severe vibration and poor positioning accuracy may occur in an indexing cam mechanism operating at a high speed. Torque fluctuation of the input shaft and the resulting fluctuation of kinetic energy of the mechanism may be the major cause of the vibration. In this paper a method is proposed to minimize the fluctuation by using a so-called “speed-varying flywheel” that produces an opposite kinetic energy fluctuation that can counteract the effect of the energy fluctuation. The flywheel is installed on the output shaft of an additional cam-linkage mechanism. The parameter of the cam-linkage mechanism is optimized. An example is given to demonstrate the effectiveness of this method.


2014 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamil Wichterle ◽  
Marek Večeř ◽  
Marek Růžička

AbstractTwo perpendicular projections of rising bubbles were observed in counter-current downstream diverging flow. Evidently, the bubbles did not enter the boundary layer at the channel wall and a plug liquid flow assumption was acceptable in our experimental equipment. This confirmed that the experiment was appropriate for simulation of bubble rises in a quiescent liquid column. Recent data obtained by a high-speed camera permitted recording over a period of 60 s. Image analysis by a tailor-made program provided a time-series of quantities related to the position, size, and shape of bubbles. In addition to determination of the aspect ratio of the equivalent oblate ellipsoid, deviation from this shape was investigated in respect of the difference between the bubble’s centre of mass and the geometrical centre of bubble projection. Autocorrelation of the data indicated that the bubble inclination oscillated harmonically with a frequency of 5–10 Hz; cross correlation showed that the horizontal shift of the centre of mass, as well as the horizontal velocity, increased with increasing bubble inclination, and the vertical shift of the centre of mass increased with an increases in the absolute value of the bubble inclination. There is no significant phase shift in the oscillation of these quantities. The bulky bottom side of the bubbles is in accordance with the model of bubble oscillation induced by instability of the equilibrium of gravity and surface tension forces. The oscillation frequency dependence on surface forces (Eötvös number) is evident, while viscosity does not play a significant role in low-viscosity liquids. Therefore, vortex-shedding is more likely to be an effect of the oscillation and not its cause.


2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (6) ◽  
pp. 1410-1419 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bárbara A. Calderón ◽  
Matthew S. McCaughey ◽  
Conor W. Thompson ◽  
Vincenzo L. Barinelli ◽  
Margaret J. Sobkowicz

2000 ◽  
Vol 160 (3) ◽  
pp. 225-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
H.H.F. BUCHNER ◽  
S. OBERMÜLLER ◽  
M. SCHEIDL
Keyword(s):  

1988 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 231-259 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ross H. Sanders ◽  
Barry D. Wilson

This study investigated factors contributing to the maximum height achieved by divers after takeoff from the 3m springboard. Twelve elite male divers and 12 elite female divers competing in the 1986 Australian National Championships were filmed using high-speed cinematography. Kinematic and kinetic data for the takeoff phase were derived from the digitized film. Variables analyzed included center of gravity (CG) displacement and velocity, the acceleration of the CG relative to the springboard, and the components of mechanical energy contributing to height achieved by the diver’s CG. Body orientation was described in terms of the angles at the hip, knee, and ankle, and whole body angle of lean. Comparison of timing differences among dive groups and divers was aided by normalizing the data with respect to time. It was found that the height achieved was highly dependent on the rotational requirements of the dive, with males achieving greater heights than females. Divers who achieve good height compared to other divers performing the same dive are characterized by a large vertical velocity at touchdown from the hurdle and a minimization of hip flexion (forward dives) and knee flextion (reverse dives) at takeoff.


Science ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 340 (6137) ◽  
pp. 1217-1220 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. T. George ◽  
T. C. Irving ◽  
C. D. Williams ◽  
T. L. Daniel

Muscles not only generate force. They may act as springs, providing energy storage to drive locomotion. Although extensible myofilaments are implicated as sites of energy storage, we show that intramuscular temperature gradients may enable molecular motors (cross-bridges) to store elastic strain energy. By using time-resolved small-angle x-ray diffraction paired with in situ measurements of mechanical energy exchange in flight muscles of Manduca sexta, we produced high-speed movies of x-ray equatorial reflections, indicating cross-bridge association with myofilaments. A temperature gradient within the flight muscle leads to lower cross-bridge cycling in the cooler regions. Those cross-bridges could elastically return energy at the extrema of muscle lengthening and shortening, helping drive cyclic wing motions. These results suggest that cross-bridges can perform functions other than contraction, acting as molecular links for elastic energy storage.


2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (92) ◽  
pp. 20130992 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leif Ristroph ◽  
Stephen Childress

Ornithopters, or flapping-wing aircraft, offer an alternative to helicopters in achieving manoeuvrability at small scales, although stabilizing such aerial vehicles remains a key challenge. Here, we present a hovering machine that achieves self-righting flight using flapping wings alone, without relying on additional aerodynamic surfaces and without feedback control. We design, construct and test-fly a prototype that opens and closes four wings, resembling the motions of swimming jellyfish more so than any insect or bird. Measurements of lift show the benefits of wing flexing and the importance of selecting a wing size appropriate to the motor. Furthermore, we use high-speed video and motion tracking to show that the body orientation is stable during ascending, forward and hovering flight modes. Our experimental measurements are used to inform an aerodynamic model of stability that reveals the importance of centre-of-mass location and the coupling of body translation and rotation. These results show the promise of flapping-flight strategies beyond those that directly mimic the wing motions of flying animals.


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