In the sports field, numerical simulation techniques have been shown to provide useful
information about performance and to play an important role as a complementary tool to
physical experiments. Indeed, this methodology has produced significant improvements in
equipment design and technique prescription in different sports (Kellar et al., 1999; Pallis et
al., 2000; Dabnichki & Avital, 2006). In swimming, this methodology has been applied in
order to better understand swimming performance. Thus, the numerical techniques have
been addressed to study the propulsive forces generated by the propelling segments
(Rouboa et al., 2006; Marinho et al., 2009a) and the hydrodynamic drag forces resisting
forward motion (Silva et al., 2008; Marinho et al., 2009b).
Although the swimmer’s performance is dependent on both drag and propulsive forces,
within this chapter the focus is only on the analysis of the propulsive forces. Hence, this
chapter covers topics in swimming propelling force analysis from a numerical simulation
technique perspective. This perspective means emphasis on the fluid mechanics and
computational fluid dynamics methodology applied in swimming investigations. One of the
main aims for performance (velocity) enhancement of swimming is to maximize propelling
forces whilst not increasing drag forces resisting forward motion, for a given trust. This
chapter will concentrate on numerical simulation results, considering the scientific
simulation point-of-view, for this practical application in swimming.
