This article has been provided by Thierry Marchal, industry program director at Ansys
Elite sport has always been a proving ground for science. From nutrition to biomechanics and safety, advances in research have consistently translated into marginal gains for athletes.
Increasingly, though, the margins are no longer marginal. High fidelity simulation, the same tools once reserved for aerospace and automotive engineering, is emerging as a decisive factor in performance.
Cycling offers the clearest example. A recent study, led by Prof Bert Blocken at Heriot-Watt University, found that professional teams can cut aerodynamic drag on their protected rider by up to 76% through alternative formations. Using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) validated with wind tunnel testing, the researchers compared traditional single file pacelines with more complex shapes such as reverse triangles, diamonds and ‘train’ configurations.
The findings underline just how much energy can be conserved through careful...