Effect of wearing a swimsuit on hydrodynamic drag of swimmer

• Main Author: Marinho,Daniel Almeida
• Publication Date: 2012
• Other Authors: Mantha,Vishveshwar Rajendra, Vilas-Boas,João Paulo, Ramos,Rui Jorge, Machado,Leandro, Rouboa,Abel Ilah, Silva,António José
• Format: Article
• Language: eng
• Source: Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology
• Download full: http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-89132012000600007
• topic: Human body; Numerical simulations; Computational Fluid Dynamics; Forces; Female

The purpose of this study was to analyse the effect of wearing a swimsuit on swimmer's passive drag. A computational fluid dynamics analysis was carried out to determine the hydrodynamic drag of a female swimmer's model (i) wearing a standard swimsuit; (ii) wearing a last generation swimsuit and; (iii) with no swimsuit, wearing light underwear. The three-dimensional surface geometry of a female swimmer's model with different swimsuit/underwear was acquired through standard commercial laser scanner. Passive drag force and drag coefficient were computed with the swimmer in a prone position. Higher hydrodynamic drag values were determined when the swimmer was with no swimsuit in comparison with the situation when the swimmer was wearing a swimsuit. The last generation swimsuit presented lower hydrodynamic drag values, although very similar to standard swimsuit. In conclusion, wearing a swimsuit could positively influence the swimmer's hydrodynamics, especially reducing the pressure drag component.