Exploring Aerodynamics: Large Eddy Simulations and Soccer Ball Design

Welcome to the course on “Large Eddy Simulation of the Flow Past a Soccer Ball,” an in-depth exploration of the aerodynamics of soccer balls using advanced computational techniques. This course is designed for students and professionals interested in understanding the complex fluid dynamics that govern the behavior of sports equipment, particularly soccer balls. Through a combination of theoretical instruction and practical application, you will learn how to use Large Eddy Simulation (LES) to model and analyze the flow patterns around a soccer ball, gaining insights into the impact of design elements such as panel shape and seam configuration on its aerodynamic performance. Whether you are a sports engineer, a fluid dynamics enthusiast, or a researcher looking to expand your skill set, this course offers a comprehensive and engaging learning experience.

This course begins with an introduction to the fundamental principles of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and the significance of aerodynamics in sports equipment design. You will explore the governing equations for fluid flow, including the Navier-Stokes equations, and delve into the specifics of turbulence modeling, focusing on Large Eddy Simulation (LES) as a powerful tool for capturing complex flow phenomena. The course then transitions into practical aspects, guiding you through the setup and execution of LES simulations, from creating accurate 3D models and computational domains to applying appropriate boundary conditions and solver settings. Through detailed analysis of simulation results, you will learn to interpret key aerodynamic characteristics such as drag coefficients, pressure distributions, and boundary layer separation. By the end of this course, you will have a solid understanding of how to apply LES techniques to study the aerodynamics of soccer balls and other sports equipment, positioning you to contribute to cutting-edge research and innovation in this exciting field.

Abstract:

The football game is the most popular, played, and loved sport around the world. The advent of technological breakthroughs and the continuous increase in consumer demand have led to a revolution in football’s design and manufacturing process. In the past, studies in soccer ball aerodynamics mainly were limited to the investigation of lift and drag forces inside a wind tunnel apparatus. A few researchers have analyzed the flow around the different soccer balls using computational fluid dynamics simulations with the Reynolds-Averaged-Navier–Stokes equations model. This study primarily intends to simulate a modern soccer ball (Adidas Telstar 18) using the Large Eddy Simulations technique. The whole research is divided into two phases. In the first phase, the flow around a smooth sphere is simulated numerically to validate the meshing strategy, boundary conditions, and solution methodology. The same modeling approach is used in the later stage to simulate the flow around a soccer ball. The effect of panels and seam on the boundary layer flow separation and overall turbulent flow structure around the soccer ball are visualized. The results indicate that the large-eddy simulations help predict the flow intricacies by resolving small eddies near the panels.

Paper DOI:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/3455235