Athletic Suit Turbulator Structures for Drag Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current athletic racing suits fail to effectively reduce drag for athletes during high-speed activities, such as speed skating, leading to suboptimal performance due to laminar fluid flow around the body, which increases drag.
Innovation Solution
The suit incorporates turbulator structures with varying surface roughness and protrusions at strategic locations to transition fluid flow from laminar to turbulent, reducing drag by disrupting the boundary layer and enhancing aerodynamic performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If a smooth surface garment is used, then the garment maintains a streamlined contour, but laminar fluid flow increases drag on the athlete
Solution Approach 1:
The garment incorporates turbulator structures at specific locations (shoulders, upper arms, upper legs) rather than uniformly across the entire surface. These localized roughness elements transition fluid flow from laminar to turbulent in boundary layers, reducing pressure drag while maintaining streamlined overall shape. The smooth vs. rough surface regions are strategically positioned to optimize aerodynamic performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The turbulator structures modify the surface roughness parameter of the garment material. By introducing controlled roughness elements with specific dimensions and distributions, the boundary layer transition from laminar to turbulent flow is triggered, fundamentally changing the fluid dynamics characteristics and reducing overall drag on the athlete.
2Productivity
If a tight-fitting suit is worn, then aerodynamic profile is improved, but fluid flow remains laminar causing increased resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The tight-fitting suit maintains streamlined contour while incorporating localized turbulator structures at critical positions. These structures create controlled surface roughness that triggers boundary layer transition, converting harmful laminar flow into beneficial turbulent flow that adheres to the suit surface and reduces pressure drag, thereby enhancing athletic performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the harmful effect of laminar flow (which separates early and creates high pressure drag) into a benefit by using turbulator structures to intentionally trigger turbulent flow. This turbulent boundary layer has more momentum and adheres to the suit surface longer, reducing the size of the wake and pressure drag, thus improving performance.
3Ease of manufacture
If uniform surface texture is used, then manufacturing is simplified, but aerodynamic performance is suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than using uniform surface texture throughout, the garment employs localized turbulator structures at specific high-drag areas (shoulders, upper arms, upper legs). This approach maintains manufacturing feasibility through modular application methods while achieving superior aerodynamic performance by targeting critical flow separation zones with controlled surface roughness.
Solution Approach 2:
The garment surface is segmented into different functional zones: smooth regions for streamlined contour and localized turbulator regions for boundary layer control. This segmentation allows each area to perform its optimal function, with turbulators applied only where needed to trigger flow transition, balancing manufacturing complexity with aerodynamic effectiveness.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The suit significantly reduces drag by promoting turbulent flow over the body, thereby enhancing the athlete's speed and performance by minimizing resistance during high-speed movements.
Implementation Method 1
Each turbulator structure is effective to generate a predetermined amount of turbulence within the boundary layer of the fluid in the immediate vicinity of the garment (bounding) surface
Implementation Method 2
Each turbulator structure is effective to generate a predetermined amount of turbulence within the boundary layer of the fluid in the immediate vicinity of the garment (bounding) surface
Implementation Method 3
laminar fluid flow around the body, which increases drag
Implementation Method 4
transition fluid flow from laminar to turbulent, reducing drag by disrupting the boundary layer
Data Source
AI summary
A suit wearable by a human user includes a torso section, an arm section extending from an upper portion of the torso section, and a leg section extending from a lower portion of the torso section. An exterior surface region of the suit is uneven and has at least one of a different surface friction property and a different surface roughness property in relation to another exterior surface region of the suit.