Hydrodynamics of rowing propulsion

E.J Grift,M.J Tummers,J Westerweel

doi:10.1017/jfm.2021.318

Abstract

Highlights

Force measurements obtained using the F/T transducer, oar blade kinematics obtained from the robot position data system and flow fields obtained from the particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements are presented and interpreted to provide insight into the hydrodynamics of rowing propulsion
During the first and last part of the drive phase the generated lift contributes to the propulsion, and the generation of leading-edge vortex (LEV) can increase lift and propulsion
During the middle part of the drive phase the propulsion is dominated by drag, which could be increased by trailing vortical structures which are effectively evolved LEVs

Summary

Introduction

Competitive rowing Competitive rowing is an Olympic sport where the differences between the winner and the runners up are very small, usually less than 1 s over a 2000 m race while a race typically 918 A29-1 Location y (m). Since finishing times are so close, small improvements of the hydrodynamic propulsion can have a large impact on the outcome of a race. The optimisation of the propulsion requires a good understanding of the oar blade motion and the flow field around the oar blade, with its corresponding hydrodynamic forces. We capture the oar blade kinematics during actual on-water rowing and reproduce the (scaled) motion in a laboratory, which enables the use of advanced flow field measurement techniques, such as particle image velocimetry (PIV), together with simultaneous force measurements

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Conclusion