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SANTA ANA, Calif. -- May 31, 2001 -- MSC.Software Corp. (NYSE:
MNS), the leading global provider of simulation software, services and
systems, today announced that MSC.Patran was used by researchers to help
solve the mystery of ‘trick’ or ‘bending’ free kicks
in soccer. Through the collaboration of three research groups, researchers
at the University of Sheffield's Sports Engineering Research Group, Yamagata
University's Sports Science Laboratory and Fluent were able to simulate
the complex physics acting upon the ball and determine how world-class
soccer players fool defenders and goaltenders with kicks that change trajectory
in mid-flight. Dr. Takeshi Asai of the Yamagata University’s Sports
Science Laboratory used MSC.Patran to model the stress and deformation
of the foot and ball as the player strikes the ball. This simulation,
combined with the computational fluid dynamics research done by Fluent
and wind tunnel and trajectory modeling done by the Dr. Matt Carré
of the University of Sheffield Sports Engineering Research Group, allowed
the research teams to determine the actual physics governing free kicks
in soccer.
“The use of simulation software is continuing to grow around the
world, especially in industries like sports and recreation who traditionally
haven’ t used advanced simulation to understand how their products
really function,” said Frank Perna, chairman and chief executive
officer of MSC.Software. “We are proud to be a small part of this
research into soccer ball flight and are looking forward to seeing these
complex physical interactions on the field during the World Cup.”
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Soccer Ball Windtunnel
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Smoke Test Soccer Ball Wake Pathlines
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When a soccer ball is traveling through the air, its trajectory is
influenced by a number of factors, including wind flow, air speed and
pressure. As the player strikes the ball, the drag and force experienced
by the ball strongly influences its trajectory, especially if the ball
is spinning. When a player strikes the ball attempting to induce a shot
that bends, a reaction known as Magnus Force causes an imbalance of
pressure to occur. This imbalance can be so pronounced at the end of
a ball’s flight that the sideways ‘spin’ force and ‘drag’
force causes the ball to alter its trajectory considerably near the
goal.
"The computer modeling techniques my group has developed with MSC.Patran
will help us design better soccer boots in the near term and explain how
a soccer player's foot deforms as it interacts with the ball,” said
Dr. Takeshi Asai of Yamagata University’s Sports Science Laboratory.
“This has important implications for kicking techniques and preventing
injuries to the foot and improve the overall understanding of the science
of soccer.”
CFD prediction of flow separation pattern
behind a non-spinning soccer ball
“We believe that our research into the underlying physics of soccer
balls is crucial to helping us explain more about soccer free kicks than
ever before," said Dr. Matt Carré from the University of Sheffield
Sports Engineering Research Group. “The work we are doing will lead
to insights that can be applied to making better soccer balls and in improving
the techniques of young soccer players.”
Information graciously provided by MSC.Software
Corporation of Santa Ana, CA, Fluent, Inc., Dr. Takeshi Asai of the
Yamagata University’s Sports Science Laboratory, Japan and to Dr. Matt
Carré from the University of Sheffield Sports Engineering Research Group.
Back to The Physics of Football Article
Go to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about the
Physics of Soccer Balls
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David Beckham's Free Kick-England vs.
Columbia 1998 WC, Actual
Footage
David Beckham's Free Kick-England vs. Greece October
2001, Animated Footage
Trajectory Charts of Kick
Foot Kicking Ball, High Speed Footage
MSC.Patran Model of Foot
Kicking Ball Animation
MSC.Patran Skeletal Model of
Foot Kicking Ball Animation
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