CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive
22 April 2008
Implementation Investments
ANSYS Technology Offers Swimmers Best Chance of Success in Build-Up to Beijing Games
ANSYS, Inc. announced that 35 swimming world records have already been broken by athletes wearing a new high-performance swimsuit designed using engineering simulation software from ANSYS. The Speedo® LZR RACER® suit, developed for elite swimmers and launched in February this year, has been proven in testing to optimize swimmer performance better than any suit to date. Seventeen out of 18 world records were broken at last week's FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) alone, suggesting the Speedo LZR RACER suit will make the headlines at the Beijing games.
Software from ANSYS played a critical role in the development of the suit. The technology was used to predict fluid flows around the body of an elite swimmer in the outstretched glide position (assumed immediately after the initial dive and following each lap's turn off the pool wall) to identify areas where drag, and its slowing effect, is likely to occur. In addition, the simulation analysis guided placement of specially designed drag-reducing Speedo LZR RACER panels to minimize this negative effect. Simulations then were run to confirm the Speedo LZR RACER suit was effective in reducing drag and enabling athletes wearing the suit to swim faster than ever before.
"While never forgetting the endless dedication and spirit of world-class athletes who continually hit new heights, we are thrilled with the success to date of the Speedo LZR RACER suit. This is clear evidence of the power of applying advanced engineering simulation technology to optimize all of the design metrics of a product. The groundbreaking innovation represented by the design of the Speedo LZR RACER suit could not have been achieved without the depth and breadth of technology from ANSYS," said Jim Cashman, president and CEO of ANSYS, Inc. "From the ANSYS perspective, we're finding that there really are no barriers to the potential applications and industries in which our software can be crucial to competitive advantage."
"Speedo is a world-class brand dedicated to continual innovation and working with the best, which makes ANSYS a perfect partner for us. The use of ANSYS software was an integral part of our design and development process, which, alongside with our other key partners, resulted in the development of the world's fastest swimsuit, the Speedo LZR RACER," said Jason Rance, head of Speedo's Aqualab research and development group.
ANSYS worked with Dr. Herve Morvan of Nottingham University and Optimal Solutions in conducting the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) research used to develop the Speedo LZR RACER suit. Speedo has long been recognized as the world's leading swimwear brand.
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