The aim of this study was to compare the aerodynamics of able-bodied and amputee
cyclists by computational fluid dynamics. The cyclists’ geometry was obtained by a 3D
scanner. Three CAD models were created as able-bodied, transtibial (Tt), and transradial
(Tr) amputees. Numerical simulations were conducted up to 13 m/s with increments of
1 m/s to assess drag force. The drag ranged between 0.36 and 39.25 N for the ablebodied
model, 0.36–43.78 for the Tr model and 0.37–41.39 N for the Tt model. The
pressure drag ranged between 0.20 and 22.94 N for the normal model, 0.21–28.61 for
the Tr model and 0.23–28.02 N for the Tt model. The viscous drag ranged between 0.16
and 15.31 N for the normal model, 0.15–15.17 for the Tr model and 0.14–13.38 N for the
Tt model. The rolling resistance (RR) was higher on the able-bodied (2.23 N), followed
by the Tr (2.20 N) and Tt (2.17 N) models. As a conclusion, the able-bodied cyclist
showed less drag, followed by the Tt and Tr models, respectively. The RR presented
higher values in the able-bodied, followed by the Tr and Tt models.
This research was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P. (project UIDB04045/2020).
