Date Presented

Spring 5-18-2024

Document Type

Thesis

First Advisor

Dr. John Eric Goff

Second Advisor

Dr. Dave Hobart

Third Advisor

Dr. Price Blair

Abstract

One goal of this research was to compare the aerodynamics of the 2023 Women’s World Cup ball, the Oceaunz, to the ball used in the 2022 Men’s World Cup, the Al Rihla, using drag coefficients obtained from wind-tunnel data and vertical trajectories of the balls. The two balls have the same panel and seam design, but they possess different surface coloring. Chemical analysis using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy suggests that both balls were designed with water soluble inks, which are environmentally preferable over inks made from oil-based solvents. Analysis of the drag coefficients determined from the wind-tunnel data indicate that Oceaunz’s and Al Rihla’s drag coefficients are not statistically different. Based on their average drag coefficients, both balls have approximately the same minimum drag coefficient and critical speeds. Additional experiments were performed to compute drag coefficients from the vertical trajectory of the balls and compare results to the wind-tunnel data. The drag coefficients calculated from the vertical drop tests show a drag crisis occurring at smaller speeds com- pared to the wind-tunnel data. Drag coefficients provide valuable information about the trajectories of the soccer balls, and therefore, how they will perform above the pitch.

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