A Learning Channel special on Lance Armstrong showed how he spent hours perfecting his aerodynamic position on the bike. Computers would analyze the drag caused by Lance's different positions on the bike and the bike itself(i.e.his body caused 2/3 of the total drag). All of this testing to save maybe 1 or 2 percent drag. Of course, in the Tour De France the few seconds time differential could be the difference between a win or loss.
So how could you test your own hydrodynamic position in the water and would it be worthwhile? I imagine one could push off the pool wall and try different positions of head,arms,torso,legs, and feet and find the ONE position that allows you to go the farthest. Persumably, that would be your most hydrodynamic or slippery.
Or, I suppose if you had an Endless Pool, you could tether a swimmer to some kind of force gauge that would measure the energy required to keep the swimmer stationary at a certain flow level. Then try different positions of head, arms, torso, legs, and feet to find which position requires the least amount of force to stay stationary.
Intuitively, one would think that a head down, straight torso, hips, legs, and pointed toes would be most hydrodynamic but not necessarily so.
How does that hydrodynamic position change when a swimmer breathes. Again, is one position more slippery than another and is it different for everyone? How would you test it?
I don't have answers--only questions. Any one aware of studies or empirical data?
Parents
Former Member
Forget Hydrodynamics and learn to swim. Most of the swimmers here will never be able to put it to good use. Swim streamline apply force when you get to the catch and finish your strokes you will be fine (nothing is effortless). Use a good 2, 4 or six beat kick. Take advantage of the push off on your turns.
Very good advice Geochuck.
Being in the science and engineering field, I have some experience with the subject of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and it is an extremely expensive process that it is economically limited to high end industrial products. Even for hydrodynamic modeling of a simple industrial water pump, the cost of running a CFD program can run $100,000 per second!
Trying to use CFD to analyze swimming techniques is rather superfluous as human behavior cannot be managed by engineering methodology and the cost can’t be justified using an industrial productivity analysis either. Accordingly, I have commented on this questionable research about using CFD with regard to the so called “high tech” suits.
forums.usms.org/showthread.php
In addition to their obscure purpose, the idea of swimming with your body covered with water proof material is antithetical to aquatic sports and ruins the sensation of being in the water. :mad:
I’ve often thought of “sports technology” as a more a way of glorifying athletics and provide it with some illusory importance in the science/engineering world. Frankly, I wish we could let swimming (and other athletics as well) just be for fun and we could get rid of this hyper competitive techy attitude.
Happy Holidays & Happy Swimming
Dolphin 2
Forget Hydrodynamics and learn to swim. Most of the swimmers here will never be able to put it to good use. Swim streamline apply force when you get to the catch and finish your strokes you will be fine (nothing is effortless). Use a good 2, 4 or six beat kick. Take advantage of the push off on your turns.
Very good advice Geochuck.
Being in the science and engineering field, I have some experience with the subject of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and it is an extremely expensive process that it is economically limited to high end industrial products. Even for hydrodynamic modeling of a simple industrial water pump, the cost of running a CFD program can run $100,000 per second!
Trying to use CFD to analyze swimming techniques is rather superfluous as human behavior cannot be managed by engineering methodology and the cost can’t be justified using an industrial productivity analysis either. Accordingly, I have commented on this questionable research about using CFD with regard to the so called “high tech” suits.
forums.usms.org/showthread.php
In addition to their obscure purpose, the idea of swimming with your body covered with water proof material is antithetical to aquatic sports and ruins the sensation of being in the water. :mad:
I’ve often thought of “sports technology” as a more a way of glorifying athletics and provide it with some illusory importance in the science/engineering world. Frankly, I wish we could let swimming (and other athletics as well) just be for fun and we could get rid of this hyper competitive techy attitude.
Happy Holidays & Happy Swimming
Dolphin 2
