The Aerodynamics and Energy Cost Assessment of an Able-Bodied Cyclist and Amputated Models by Computer Fluid Dynamics

Medicina

Tiago M. Barbosa¹  Jorge E. Morais²  Pedro Forte²  Ricardo Silveira²  Daniel A. Marinho³ 

[1] Departamento de Desporto e Educação Física, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal;Department of Sports, Higher Institute of Educational Sciences of the Douro, 4560-708 Penafiel, Portugal;Research Center for Sports Health and Human Development, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal;

关键词: CFD;    energy cost;    amputee;    cyclists;    comparison;   

DOI  :  10.3390/medicina56050241

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Background and Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess and compare the drag and energy cost of three cyclists assessed by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and analytical procedures. Materials and methods: A transradial (Tr) and transtibial (Tt) were compared to a full-body cyclist at different speeds. An elite male cyclist with 65 kg of mass and 1.72 m of height volunteered for this research with his competition cloths, helmet and bicycle with 5 kg of mass. A 3D model of the bicycle and cyclist in the upright position was obtained for numerical simulations. Upon that, two more models were created, simulating elbow and knee-disarticulated athletes. Numerical simulations by computational fluid dynamics and analytical procedures were computed to assess drag and energy cost, respectively. Results: One-Way ANOVA presented no significant differences between cyclists for drag (F = 0.041; p = 0.960; η² = 0.002) and energy cost (F = 0.42; p = 0.908; η² = 0.002). Linear regression presented a very high adjustment for absolute drag values between able-bodied and Tr (R² = 1.000; Ra² = 1.000; SEE = 0.200) and Tt (R² = 1.00; Ra² = 1.000; SEE = 0.160). The linear regression for energy cost presented a very high adjustment for absolute values between able-bodied and Tr (R² = 1.000; Ra² = 1.000; SEE = 0.570) and Tt (R² = 1.00; Ra² = 1.00; SEE = 0.778). Conclusions: This study suggests that drag and energy cost was lower in the able-bodied, followed by the Tr and Tt cyclists.

【 授权许可】

Unknown