Cricket Ball Moving Through Air — Simulation Example

Overview

Bat and ball sports, such as cricket and baseball, depend a lot on the trajectory taken by the ball as it is released by the bowler (pitcher). In cricket, a fast bowler releases the ball at about 120-150 km/h. At this speed the flow around the ball is highly turbulent and unsteady. The pressure distribution on the surface of the ball and in its vicinity defines the trajectory the ball takes as it moves through the air. Cricketers rely on this understanding while formulating gameplay strategies and take into account external conditions such as wind speeds, temperature and humidity, as all of these factors can affect the ball trajectory. In this simulation example, we will analyze the flow around a cricket ball as it moves through the air at 40 m/s (144 km/h).

Objective

In this simulation example, you will learn how to:

• Simulate the air flow around a cricket ball in Ansys Fluent
• Create and analyze pressure and wall shear stress contours
• Analyze the flow field using velocity vectors

Setup

Download the Mesh file needed for setting up the simulation and the associated Case & Data files here. Follow the instructions below to set up this simulation in Ansys Fluent starting with a Mesh file. In case you face any issues setting up or running the simulation, then please use the corresponding initial and final Case and Data files.

Alternate video link.

Results and Discussion

Let’s now analyze the simulation results and understand the physics of a sphere moving through a fluid.