The Role of Boundary Layer Theory in Soccer Ball Dynamics

Abstract

The boundary layer theory plays a major role in the development of fluid mechanics applications especially in the sports ball dynamics. Whenever an object travels through the air, it experiences aerodynamic forces acting on it. Sport balls, uses these forces to deviate from its expected path of flight. Thus, creating an advantage which can be exploited by the playing members to improve their skills. The present study focuses on numerical simulation of aerodynamic flow over a soccer ball and estimated the drag coefficient. In order to a get more precise results, the effect of gravity is included to study the dynamics of flow. The variation of drag coefficient is plotted as a function of Reynolds number and wind speed. The computational result had a good agreement with existing empirical data.