The aim of the present study is to improve the aerodynamic performance of the bobsled as a function of its shape and the relative position of the athletes inside the bobsled. This performance optimization problem is studied by means of wind tunnel testing. The aerodynamic responses of the manned and unmanned bobsleigh are analysed in terms of overall drag force measurements. Experimental results show that the proposed modifications to the sidewalls and the nose section of the bobsled improve its drag performance. The relative position of the driver and the brakeman has a great influence on the drag of the bobsled.
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2.
RogowskiI.MidolA.Boua LiB.RoucoulesV.LanteriP.MathiaT.ZahounaiH.Methodologie pour 1'evaluation de la performance des surfaces dans le dominae de la glisse. Actes du ler Congres Europeen de L'OASIS (Sciences de 1'Ingenieur au Service du Sport), (Paris, France, 1999, pp. 57–64 (Oasis, Paris).
3.
SchmidtW.SchonlebeU.Aerodynamic optimisation of a four-men bobsled. WKK technical report 840010, Windkanal WKK, Klotzche, Dresden, Germany, 2000, pp. 1–18.
4.
AminD.CzerkawskiP.DeaconR.HardenS.LopezC.SulimanF.WhitbreadK.Bobsleigh project phase 1. MEng thesis, Queen Mary College, University of London, 2001.
5.
Da SilvaC.MutangaduraV.TadamasaA.ArribusA.IpP.EdekoE.Bobsleigh project phase 2. MEng thesis, Queen Mary College, University of London, 2002.
6.
MotallebiF.AvitalE.DabnichkiP.On the aerodynamics of the two-man bobsleigh. In Proceedings of 4th International Conference onEngineering of Sport, Kyoto, Japan, 2002.
7.
DabnichkiP.MotallebiF.AvitalE.Protection versus performance in bobsleighergonomics design. In Proceedings of 4th International Conference onEngineering of Sport, Kyoto, Japan, 2002.
8.
Articles of association, international rules, regulations. Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing (FIBT), 2002, pp. 44–56.
9.
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