The aerodynamic efficiency of an elite cyclist is often evaluated and optimised using either one or a combination of field testing, wind-tunnel testing and numerical simulation. This study focuses on the processes and limitations involved in using a body scan to produce an accurate geometry for input to numerical simulation, with validation through drag comparisons from wind-tunnel tests and vortical wake-flow features reported in previous experimental studies. Transitional Shear Stress Transport Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes simulations based on the scanned geometry were undertaken for a 180 ° half crank cycle at 15 ° increments. The sectional drag force contributions of 23 body subparts are presented, documenting the contribution and variation of each body/cycle component over the cycle. These methods are evaluated and the limitations of the approaches are discussed. The results from the numerical simulation and the wind tunnel measured drag force were very similar, differing by approximately 1%–7% for various crank angles.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.