Mech 221

Lab #0
Aerodynamics of Bicycling (Sample Lab)

Group #99
Euler Section

Aaron A. Aaronson, 12345678

Langdon Alger, 23456789
Maude Flanders, 34567890 (absent)
Ruth Powers, 45678901
Marvin Monroe, 56789012 (make-up)

Lab performed: September 1, 2004

1. Summary

In this lab, we examined the drag force on a cyclist and rider using a wind tunnel. While
the drag increased with wind speed and frontal area of the cyclist, the coefficient of drag
was relatively constant for different speeds and positions. The results were reasonable;
over Reynolds numbers from 1.9×105 to 6.5×105, the values of the coefficient of drag
were between 0.72 and 0.90 (slightly lower than a circular cylinder for the same
Reynolds numbers).

2. Procedure

The procedure for this lab was the same as in the lab manual with one exception. The lab
manual procedure (#4) stated that measurements were to be taken using wind speeds
from 5 m/s to 20 m/s. The TA advised us that we would not be able to safely reach 20
m/s so measurements were only conducted to 17.5 m/s.

3. Results

In Table 1, the drag and coefficient of drag data is shown for the cyclist in the upright
position. In Table 2, the data is shown for the cyclist in the crouching position.

Table 1 – Drag for Upright Rider

Target U Delta P Actual U Re Drag Cd
[m/s] [Pa] [m/s] [-] [N] [-]
5 14.79 5.13 191000 7.81 0.900
7.5 32.4 7.59 283000 16.65 0.875
10 56.7 10.04 374000 28.6 0.860
12.5 88.3 12.53 467000 43.8 0.845
15 126.6 15.00 559000 55.7 0.750
17.5 173.2 17.55 654000 73.1 0.720

Table 2 – Drag for Crouching Rider

Target U Delta P Actual U Re Drag Cd
[m/s] [Pa] [m/s] [-] [N] [-]
5 14.85 5.14 191400 4.11 0.811
7.5 32.6 7.61 284000 8.81 0.792
10 56.8 10.05 374000 15.57 0.803
12.5 88.5 12.54 467000 23.9 0.792
15 127.3 15.04 560000 33.0 0.759
17.5 173.2 17.55 654000 45.1 0.763

We approximated the cyclist frontal area (used in calculating Cd) using Photoshop. First
we determined the area of the cyclist in pixels and then we scaled that to square metres

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using the ruler that was in the photograph for reference. The resulting frontal areas were
0.55 m2 for the upright position and 0.32 m2 for the crouching position.

Figure 1 shows the drag versus wind speed for the two positions. As expected, the cyclist
in the upright position clearly has greater drag than the crouching cyclist. Figure 2 shows
Cd versus Re. When the data is presented in this non-dimensional form, the two rider
positions are much more similar. This is largely because the drag in the upright position
is divided by a greater frontal area when computing Cd.

80.00

Crouch Position
70.00 Upright Position

60.00

50.00
Drag [N]

40.00

30.00

20.00

10.00

0.00
0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00
Wind Speed [m/s]

Figure 1 – Drag versus Wind Speed

1.0
Drag crisis
0.9

0.8

0.7

0.6
Cd

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2
Crouch Position
0.1 Upright Position

0.0
0 100000 200000 300000 400000 500000 600000 700000
Reynolds Number

Figure 2 – Cd versus Re

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4. Questions

drag
1. The definition of Cd is: Cd = which is dependent on air density, ρ.
ρU 2 A 1
2
However, wind speed, U, was determined based on the pressure difference according
( )
to: ∆P = 12 ρU 2 1 − Ar which also depends on ρ. In other words, ρ will cancel out
2

when we compute Cd from ∆P. This means that Cd is not sensitive to errors in an
assumed value of ρ in this case. To demonstrate, the two equations above combine
into

Cd =
drag
∆P ⋅ A
(
1 − Ar
2
)
which does not depend on an assumed value of ρ.

2. We are told to assume that the net mechanical friction on the bicycle is

Fmech = 0.8N/(m/s) x Ug + 2.5N (where Ug is speed over ground measured in m/s)

and asked to estimate speeds for which aerodynamic resistance is more important
than mechanical friction.

The figure below shows the mechanical resistance superimposed on top of the
aerodynamic resistance curves from the measured data. Note that the curves were
extended to the origin since we know that the drag is zero if there is no relative wind.

90

80 Crouch Position
Upright Position
70 Mechanical Resistance

60
Drag [N]

50

40

30

20

10

0
0 5 10 15 20
Wind Speed [m/s]

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 From the plot we see that the resistance from mechanical friction is the same as
aerodynamic resistance at about 4m/s for the upright position and about 7.5 m/s for
the crouching position. Above these two speeds aerodynamic resistance is more
important; below them, mechanical friction is more important.

3. How fast can a cyclist travel if sustained power output is 400 W and mechanical
friction force is Fmech = 0.8N/(m/s) x Ug + 2.5N.

Power = force x speed = Fdrag x U + Fmech x Ug

On a calm day, Ug = U
→ Power = (Fdrag + Fmech) x U

The power to overcome drag (that is, the experimental drag data multiplied by speed)
is shown in the figure below for the upright rider position. The power to overcome
mechanical resistance and the total power (sum of mechanical and aerodynamic
power) are also shown.

1800

Power for Drag (upright)

1600
Power for Mechanical Resistance
1400 Total Power

1200
Power [W]

1000

800

600

400

200

0
0 5 10 15 20
Wind Speed [m/s]

At 10 m/s, the total power is approximately 400 W - this is the speed the cyclist
would attain.

For the crouching rider position, the data is analyzed in the same fashion and is
shown below.

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 1200

Power for Drag (crouch)

1000 Power for Mechanical Resistance

Total Power

800

Power [W]
600

400

200

0
0 5 10 15 20
Wind Speed [m/s]

In this case, the cyclist would attain a speed of approximately 12 m/s if the total
power output is 400W.

4. There appeared to be drag crisis for the upright rider at a Reynolds number of about
560,000. This is shown in Figure 2 on page 2 (Results section). There was not
evidence for drag crisis for the rider in the crouching position.

5. Acknowledgements

We shared data with the group that ran the experiment at the same time (Group #98: M.
Prince, M. van Houten, J. Jones, and R. Wiggum) as instructed by the TA. The wind
tunnel manager (Dr. Nick Riviera) provided guidance on answering question 1.

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6. Appendix A – Sample Calculations

Frontal Area
Digital scale factor = f
f = actual distance in picture / number of pixels
= 25 cm / 53 pixels
= 0.00472 m/pixel

Area of upright rider (from Photoshop) = 24688 pixels

A = area in pixels / f2 = 24688 pixels2 / (0.00472 m/pixel)2
= 0.55 m2

Characteristic Width
W = A / seat to shoulder distance
= 24688 pixels2 / 207 pixels
= 119 pixels
→ 119 pixels x f = 0.56 m

Wind speed from pressure measurement

U = [∆P/( ½ ρ(1-Ar2))]1/2
= [14.79Pa /( ½ ⋅ 1.2 kg/m3 ⋅ (1-0.252))]1/2
= 5.13 m/s

Reynolds Number from wind speed

Re = UW / ν
= 5.13 m/s x 0.42 m / 1.51x10-5
= 191,000

Coefficient of drag from drag and Windspeed

Cd = drag/(½ ρU2A)
= 7.81N/(½ ⋅ 1.2 kg/m3 ⋅ (5.13 m/s)2 ⋅ 0.55m2)
= 0.900

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7. Appendix B - Original Lab Data

Drag for Upright Rider

Target U Delta P Drag
[m/s] [Pa] [N]
5 14.79 7.81
7.5 32.4 16.65
10 56.7 28.6
12.5 88.3 43.8
15 126.6 55.7
17.5 173.2 73.1

Drag for Crouching Rider

Target U Delta P Drag
[m/s] [Pa] [N]
5 14.85 4.11
7.5 32.6 8.81
10 56.8 15.57
12.5 88.5 23.9
15 127.3 33.0
17.5 173.2 45.1

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