Computer helps scientists create 'fastest swimsuit'
Thursday, 28 Feb 2008 16:14
A new swimsuit is claimed to be the fastest in the world
Science In Focus
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A computer modelling technique has enabled scientists to make what they believe to be the fastest swimsuit in the world.
Within a week of the launch of Speedo's new LZR Racer swimsuit athletes wearing it broke three world records.
To create the suit, Speedo used information from Nasa and a number of international research institutes and industrial partners.
Over 400 athletes were scanned and the company also obtained scans from top athletes.
Using a technique called computational fluid dynamics (CFD), a team at the University of Nottingham pinpointed areas of high friction on the athlete's body.
With this information designers were able to position low friction fabric in the right locations.
"CFD enabled us to use the compressive property of the suit to shape the body as ideally as possible, taking into account the physiological and bio-mechanical requirements of the athlete," said Dr Herve Morvan.
"We are now building up toward active drag which accounts for the athlete motion and its interaction with the free surface. This should further validate the suit design as we move to the 2012 Olympics."