Sports hydrodynamics

Hydrodynamics of blades in rowing, sprint canoe & kayak and sailing and athlete biomechanics

The complex interactions between the athlete, blade and boat is studied experimentally and with modelling.  Realistic CFD modelling of the blade-water flow (unsteady, very high AOA, very low aspect ratio foils with the free water-air interface) provide blade forces and guide blade redesigns. Just as important is the interaction of these forces with the boat motions (which contribute to the approach flows seen by the foils) and the athlete as a power source (directly coupling blade trajectories and approach flows with the forces the athlete experiences/can provide).

Using these models, changes to specific variables  (blade design, stroke profiles/trajectories, boat rigging, etc.) can be evaluated on the basis of its effect on stroke efficiency. In doing so, the model can be used as a tool both for coaches and athletes to study the biomechanics of the strokes, and for equipment manufacturers to easily and affordably test new designs.  Detailed on-water measurements provide data for athlete feedback and to help validate models.

Rowing 

Blade hydrodynamics modelling.  Development of redesigned blades built by Concept2.  These blades are the basis of Concept2's new (2023) Comp Blades.  On-water testing and evaluation.

Shell stiffness and lightweighting with a Canadian boat manufacturer.

Sprint canoe

Instrumentation of blade forces and moments using a 6DOF wireless system.  On-water testing with ex-national team athletes.  Blade orientation tracking to provide full real-time athlete & coach feedback of athlete/blade/boat forces. Modelling of blade hydrodynamics with real blade trajectories.

Simplified instrumented 2DOF paddles for real-time blade force feedback to athletes on their own paddles.

Modification of the sprint canoe simplified instrumented paddles for use with Dragon Boat paddles. 

Aero-hydrodynamics in sailing

Sails and keels/rudders/foils all experience complex three-dimensional, not-entirely steady flows. Added complexity is seen with fluid-structure interaction - a sail stretches according to the forces it experiences, and those forces depend on its deforming shape, and similarly underwater foils bend under their hydrodynamic and boat dynamics loads.  Understanding this behaviour can allow these effects to be incorporated into designs allowing improved performance.