Golf Ball Dimples Wave-like Cross-section Aerodynamics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current golf ball dimples do not optimize flight performance, particularly in terms of reducing drag and enhancing lift force, leading to suboptimal flight distances.
Innovation Solution
The golf ball features a large number of dimples with a curved surface having a wave-like cross-sectional shape, comprising projections and recesses, where the ratio of the projection's peak distance to the dimple edge is between 20% and 70% of the dimple radius, and the wave-like curve is obtained by combining a circular arc with a sine or cosine curve, providing balanced drag and lift forces throughout the trajectory.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional dimple shapes are used, then the golf ball structure is simple, but flight performance (drag reduction and lift enhancement) is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The dimple cross-sectional shape uses a wave-like curve instead of conventional simple arcs, creating projections and recesses that generate beneficial flow patterns. This curved geometry modification directly improves aerodynamic performance by reducing drag and enhancing lift through controlled turbulent flow separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention specifies precise parameter ranges: the ratio of projection peak distance to dimple radius is 20%-70%, the number of cycles is 2.0-6.0, and these parameters are optimized to balance drag reduction at initial trajectory stages with lift enhancement at latter stages, achieving excellent overall flight performance.
2Ease of manufacture
If dimples have simple circular arc shapes, then manufacturing is easy, but drag reduction and lift force enhancement are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The wave-like curve with projections and recesses is formed using standard injection molding techniques with appropriately designed mold cavities. The manufacturing process remains conventional, but the resulting dimple geometry significantly enhances flight distance by optimizing aerodynamic forces throughout the trajectory.
3Productivity
If dimples have complex wave-like shapes with projections and recesses, then drag is reduced and lift force is enhanced, but the dimple design becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The wave-like curve parameters (cycles between 2.0-6.0, projection depth ratio of 20%-70%) are carefully controlled to achieve optimal aerodynamic performance. This parameter optimization ensures that the complex geometry produces balanced drag reduction at initial trajectory stages and lift enhancement at latter stages, maximizing flight distance.
Solution Approach 2:
The specific wave-like cross-sectional shape with controlled projections and recesses creates beneficial flow separation patterns that enhance aerodynamic performance. The curved geometry is designed to promote turbulent flow transition and delay separation, achieving excellent flight characteristics.
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
This design results in a golf ball with reduced drag at the initial stage of flight and increased lift force at the latter stage, achieving a longer flight distance with excellent aerodynamic symmetry and performance.
Implementation Method 1
The dimples disturb the air flow around the golf ball during flight to cause turbulent flow separation. By causing the turbulent flow separation, separation points of the air from the golf ball shift backwards leading to a reduction of drag.
Implementation Method 2
separation points of the air from the golf ball shift backwards leading to a reduction of drag
Implementation Method 3
The turbulent flow separation promotes the displacement between the separation point on the upper side and the separation point on the lower side of the golf ball, which results from the backspin, thereby enhancing the lift force which acts upon the golf ball.
Data Source
AI summary
A cross-sectional shape of each of dimples 8 of a golf ball is a wave-like curve. The wave-like curve has two first projections 16, two second projections 18, two first recesses 20, and two second recesses 22. A circular arc 14 passes through one edge Ed, a deepest point Pd, and another edge Ed. Each first projection 16 is located above the circular arc 14. Each second projection 18 is located above the circular arc 14. Each first recess 20 is located below the circular arc 14. Each second recess 22 is located below the circular arc 14. The ratio of the distance Lp from an edge Ed to a peak Pp to the radius (Di/2) of the dimple 8 is equal to or greater than 20% but equal to or less than 70%.