CHANGING WORLDS The Impact of University Research

Head first: how to engineer controlled falling in Skeleton. Stephen Turnock, Professor of Maritime Fluid Dynamics 13 th October 2010,

Challenge All sports have a complex and strict operational regime controlled by rules and regulations which have varying degrees of antagonism towards Engineering based innovation. Some explicitly proscribe innovation to gain for example aerodynamic benefits. All athletes use personalised equipment to a greater or lesser extent. How do you design/select the ‘best’ equipment amongst those on offer and allowed by the sport? Athlete will train for four years to compete in Olympic events that can last of order of seconds. On a given day they have to make all the correct decisions, nothing can fail and still they need to be at the top of their sport to have a chance of victory.

Reflections on a process… on 3.5 years of preparation for less than 240 seconds of effort 4 In skeleton the athlete controls their descent through minute and precisely timed alterations to their body position and posture. They descend at speed of 140 km/h or higher and the quality of their control will determine success or failure with margins of victory often counted in 100ths of a second. Engineering the equipment they use requires an understanding of the underlying physical principles, material properties and crucially how best the equipment can be tailored to the athlete. We were approached in 2004 to tender as one of the Innovation Partners for UKSport In summer 2006 approached by UKSport to find EngD students to act as technical support for British Skeleton following their success in Turin

WHY UNIVERISTY OF SOUTHAMPTON? Long standing research interests in high performance yachts, F1 and Indy cars. Main core of Wolfson Unit (WUMTIA) consultancy business +40 years Excellent students who combine engineering with expertise in sport, attracted by UoS worldwide reputation Research infrastructure: wind tunnels, towing tanks and knowledge of how to use them nd America Cup, 7 races of 1h 32m 38s avg

Engineering Doctorate British Bob Skeleton, a performance director and small team of coaches – two EngD students would become their technical development team Mix of a conventional PhD, +50% of an MBA. Students spend final 2 years embedded in an industrial organisation Supported through UK Sport by Innovation Partners including Sheffield Hallam, Wolfson Unit, BAE Systems, TotalSim Two students appointed: Rachel Blackburn, MEng degree in Yacht and Small Craft and was an Olympic level yachtswomen. James Roche BEng in Ship Science, international class sailor 6

Ship Science? Ship Air drag Water resistance Catamaran (twin hull) Rudder to manoeuvre and course keep Power from heavy diesel fuel engine through propeller Sled Air drag Ice Friction Two runners Body position and posture, toes Gravity and sprint 7

How to go fast? Quick sprint and clean load onto sled Have a good ‘aerodynamic’ position Steer correctly: by adjusting head, swinging legs or touching toes Learn track so that can descend on ‘autopilot’ One small error can lose Championship-so be perfect Have the right body shape (Body Mass Index) Don’t black out… or indeed fall off 8

9 Whole race simulation- how to deal with very limited track access and no published track data… Plot of Sled Track in Whistler Corner 1

Vancouver Not all bob skeleton… Feb 18th4.30 PSTWilliamsA53.831st GoughA SzymkowiakK HuberA HollingsworthM pm PSTWilliamsA SzymkowiakK HollingsworthM HuberA Feb 19th3.45 PM PSTWilliamsA HollingsworthM SzymkowiakK HuberA PM PSTWilliamsA544 SzymkowiakK HuberA53.882

Concluding Remarks Low budgets, strict timescales, fierce competition all drive an innovative approach EngD route provide ideal method of embedding bright, intelligent, sports aware engineers within team. UKSport based partnership approach brought a collective partnership of expertise in project management, instrumentation, design, and manufacturing. Deliverables –Two qualified EngD –Technology transfer to low energy shipping Big science vs small science Happy to answer questions…. 11

CHANGING WORLDS The Impact of University Research