NUMERICAL ANALYSIS OF THE DRAG COEFFICIENT OF A MOTORCYCLE HELMET

Abstract

The paper discusses a numerical investigation, using a CFD tool, ANSYS FLUENT, of drag acting on a motorcycle helmet. The simulations were performed on a model of a helmet downloaded from a free CAD model library. A solid model enabled us to generate a mesh, to define boundary conditions and to specify a model of turbulence. Accordingly, the values of forces acting on individual sections of the helmet were obtained and the coefficients of aerodynamic drag were calculated. The test results can be used to optimize the shape of the existing motorcycle helmet construction and to study the impact of generated drag forces on reaction forces affecting a motorcyclist’s body.