Near Wake Analysis of a Two-Man Bobsleigh Scaled Model

Near Wake Analysis of a Two-Man Bobsleigh Scaled Model

Sciacchitano, A. (TU Delft Aerodynamics)
Pattnaik, Pallav

Espinosa, Hugo G. (editor)
Rowlands, David R. (editor)
Shepherd, Jonathan (editor)
Thiel, David V. (editor)

2018

The flow field in the near wake of a 1:5.5 bobsleigh model was investigated by means of stereoscopic particle image velocimetry. The time-averaged flow field revealed two counter-rotating vortices and a strong downwash between them. From the velocity field, the aerodynamic drag was retrieved invoking the conservation of momentum. This approach enabled relating the aerodynamic loads with the flow structures responsible of the loads. Measurements were repeated with different front-cowling rotations between 0° and 20°. It was found that small nose rotations allowed a drag reduction by approximately 5%, whereas for nose rotations exceeding 10° the drag coefficient remained approximately constant.

bobsleigh aerodynamics
Particle Image Velocimetry
aerodynamic loads
pressure from PIV
conservation of momentum
front-cowling rotations

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:400be94b-a651-4951-934e-b45614ff8320

https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2060319

MDPI

Proceedings of the 12th Conference of the International Sports Engineering Association (ISEA 2018): Engineering of Sport

ISEA 2018: 12th Conference of the International Sports Engineering Association 'Engineering of Sport', 2018-03-26 → 2018-03-28, Brisbane, Australia

Proceedings, 2504-3900, 2 (6)

Institutional Repository

conference paper

© 2018 A. Sciacchitano, Pallav Pattnaik