Fluid Biomechanics

The study of forces that develop when an object moves through a fluid medium. Two fluids of interest
Water Air

Fluid forces
Four major fluid forces of interest:
Weight Buoyant Force rag !ift "ther Forces

Floatation
Equilibrium: weight of object = buoyant force Floatation: specific gravity < 1 weight of object < max. buoyant force

 Specific gravity: # $ Wbody Wwater Center of buoyancy: The point that is %& of volume of water e'ual to the volume and shape of the submerged body CB is closer to the chest region CG is closer to the pelvic region

(atural floater

True floater

True sin)er

Buoyant Force
Archimedes Principle:
"bject in a fluid is acted on a buoyant force. buoyant force $ weight of the fluid displaced by the object

A body that is partially or totally immersed in a fluid will experience an upward buoyant force that is equal to the weight of the volume of fluid displaced by that body

Center of buoyancy & swimming performance

Vw a te r Vboat $Vw a te r

!"# # $ "# $

Vw a te r Vboat $Vw a te r

!"# "# $ "# #

Vw a te r Vboat $Vw a t e r

# "# $ # "#

Drag Force
Along the direction of motion Opposite of relative flow lows down the speed
Affected by cross"section area Affected by surface smoothness

!esistance

#$ = % &$A '(

Skin Friction / Surface Drag

Boundary layer: layer of affected air epends on
relative velocity surface area smoothness of surface fluid *viscosity+

fabric *swim suit+, shaving body in swimming

Profile Drag/Form Drag

ue to separation of the fluid from the boundary of the object -ddy currents .ressure gradient #treamlining

Profile Drag/Form Drag

depends on cross/section shape of the body smoothness of the surface bicyclist in upright v. crouched position

Wa e Drag
0esistance at the interface, due to wave

!ift
.erpendicular to the direction of motion
%reated by different pressures on opposite sides of an object due to fluid flow past the object Bernoulli1s principle: velocity is inversely proportional to pressure

Bernoullis Law
Where the flow velocity is fast, the pressure is low; where the flow velocity is slow, the pressure is high

F! $ 2 %!A 34

Effect of Lift in Sport

Variables influencing aerodynamic lift force

Angle of .rojection5 angle between

hori)ontal and &* of projectile

!ine of Flight Attitude Angle5 angle between hori)ontal

and long axis of projectile

Effect of Lift in Sport

%enter of .ressure Angle of Attac) at 0elease5 angle
between projectile1s long a6is and projection angle

"he #agnus $ffect

The 7agnus effect
describes the curved path that is observed by spinning projectiles

"he #agnus $ffect

-6plained by Bernoulli1s principle and the pressure differences caused by relative differences in flow velocities

"op Spinning
3elocity of superior boundary layer decrease 3elocity of inferior boundary layer increase (-T Force5 ownward

Back Spinning
'elocity of superior boundary layer increase 'elocity of inferior boundary layer decrease +,- #orce. upward !ebound

NET FORCE (up)

flow

Side Spinning
%t& spin Rt side ! low pressure "one #t side ! high pressure "one (-T Force5 to 0t. side 't& Spin #t side ! low pressure "one Rt side ! high pressure "one (-T Force5 to !t. side