Abstract
It is known that the flying characteristics of the golf ball is influenced by flying speed, rotational frequencies and the dimples, etc. In this study, the drag and lift acting on the test balls are measured using a three components loadcell by changing Reynolds number and the spin rate ratio, the number and the depth of dimples. And the flow around the balls is visualized by applying the oil film method and PIV in the stationary state. From these results, the aerodynamic drag and lift coefficients of the balls in the stationary and the rotational state are made clear.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bearman, P. W. and Harvey, J. K., Golf Ball Aerodynamics, Aeronautical Quarterly 27, (1976), 112–122.
Oki, M., Aoki, K. and Nakayama, Y., Flow Characteristics and around a Circular Cylinder with Groove, JSME, 64–625, (1998), 2868–2873.
Smits, A. J. and Smith, D. R., A New Aerodynamics Model of Golf Ball in Flight, Science and Golf II, (1994), 340–347.
Taneda, S., Negative Magnus Effect, Reports of Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, Vol. V, No. 20, (1957), 123–128.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Katsumi Aoki: He received his M.Sc. (Eng.) degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1967 from Tokai University and his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering in 1986 from the same University. After obtaining M.Sc. he worked as a research assistant, a lecturer, and an associate professor at Tokai University before taking up his current position as a professor of Tokai University. His current research interest covers flow around a rotating circular cylinder with and without grooves, flow around a rotating sphere, possibility of drag reduction using triangle-type cavity and flow visualization by spark tracing method of complicated flow field like in centrifugal blower.
Atsuo Ohike: He received his B.Sc. (Eng.) degree in Mechanical Engineering in 2000 and his M.Sc. (Eng.) in 2002 from Tokai University. He is currently employed in Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
Kiyonaga Yamaguchi: He received his B.Sc.(Eng.) degree in Polymer Chemistry in 1975 and his M.Sc.(Eng.) in 1977 both from Kyoto University. He is currently employed in The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
Yasuki Nakayama: He received his B.Sc. (Eng.) degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1952 from Waseda University, and his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from same University in 1963. He joined the National Railway Research Institute and conducted many research investigations in the area of fluid mechanics. He then became a Professor of Tokai University, where he taught and researched fluid mechanics and visualization. He holds President of the Future Technology Research Institute concurrently. He has received many distinctions and awards for his outstanding research. He has been a visiting Professor of Southampton University, UK, President of The Visualization Society of Japan, and Director of The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers. He has published 10 books and more than 160 research papers.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Aoki, K., Ohike, A., Yamaguchi, K. et al. Flying characteristics and flow pattern of a sphere with dimples. J Vis 6, 67–76 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03180966
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03180966