THE USE OF COMPUTATIONAL FLUIDS DYNAMICS TO OPTIMISE UNDERWATER KICKING PERFORMANCE

Abstract

Elite swimmers use a variety of underwater kicking patterns in current competition with little scientific information used in their selection. The current study sought to discriminate between 2 different patterns of underwater dolphin kick (large amplitude, slow kicks versus small amplitude, fast kicks) using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Inputs into the CFD model included an accurate 3D mapping of an elite swimmer and detailed kinematic information of the underwater kicking from a 2D analysis. Initial results of the static CFD model were in agreement with previous empirical testing of passive drag. Results of the dynamic CFD modelling and comparisons are still to be finalised.