Aerodynamic testing offers competitive edge for wheelchair racers

The testing took place at the Human-Flow Interactions Wind Tunnel at Manchester University, in partnership with RGK Wheelchairs, and focused on assessing the aerodynamic drag encountered by wheelchair racing athletes when moving.

In a statement, doctoral researcher Will Dixon said: “Our testing, which forms part of my PhD, involves the athlete in three different positions throughout their stroke cycle - the catch, release and recovery to see the different phases of drag. We're also assessing at different speeds to see what happens to the drag as the athlete goes faster or slower.

“We’re very lucky to have been given access to this full-scale wind tunnel as it allows us to validate the simulations I’ve been putting together at Loughborough, by giving us the opportunity to work alongside a Paralympics GB athlete in as realistic conditions as possible.”

Dixon’s supervisor Dr Dan Butcher, senior lecturer of Applied Fluid Mechanics at Loughborough, said: “A lot of the PhD work is based on computer simulation so it’s important that we validate these findings in real world conditions so we can better understand how the drag is impacting a real athlete in motion.