J. Paulo Vilas-Boas, Ph.

D
Full Professor, Olympic Coach, Pres.GA Portuguese Swimming Federation, SG-BMS-WCSS
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Hydrodynamics of human swimming propulsion
VP for C. Educ.
Olympic Swimming
Coach
Full Professor
SG-BMS, WCSS
Who I am, and
how do I see myself in swimming ?
Swimming research and assessment should
be relevant for practical swimming purposes!
Myself (also as a biophysicist) in swimming
Vilas-Boas family
Hydrodynamics
of swimming
fundamentals for the
understanding of
propulsion
The The The The theory theory theory theory of technique of technique of technique of technique
The rational of the movement The rational of the movement The rational of the movement The rational of the movement
Hydroynamic propulsion
(drag, lift, vortex)
Hydroynamic drag
(pressure, friction, wave)
P + D = m * a
P > D a is positive
P < D a is negative
P = D a = 0 v = const.
D = C
D
S v
2
W = D . v
.
(K = C
D
S)
W = K . v
3
.
W = E . e
p
.
.
v = E .
e
p
D
.
.
E D
e
p v
=
W = D .v = E . e
p
. .
di Prampero et al. (1974)
The swimming technique is it important for the elite swimmer? The swimming technique is it important for the elite swimmer? The swimming technique is it important for the elite swimmer? The swimming technique is it important for the elite swimmer?
Image based
3D Kinematics (APAS,
Peak, SIMI)
+ other kinematics
EMG
Force Plates
dynamometry
Direct
Oxymetry + [La-]
Electronics
development
Swimming biomechanics (research, evaluation & advice)
Swimming physiology (research, evaluation & advice)
Swimming psychology (research, evaluation & advice)
Swimming training (research, evaluation & advice)
0.0000 5.0000 10.000 15.000 20.000 25.000
seconds
-10.0000
-5.00000
0.00000
5.00000
10.0000
m
V
EM
G
0.00000
2.00000
4.00000
6.00000
8.00000
10.0000
m
V
ABS
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1.00000
2.00000
3.00000
m
V
envelope
0.00000
1.00000
2.00000
3.00000
4.00000
5.00000
m
V/sqrt(s)
RM
S
-0.50000 0.00000
0.50000
1.00000
1.50000
2.00000 2.50000
m
V.s
iEM
G
+
-
Ref.
10cm cabos Holter Pramplificador
16
(2m; 4 x 0.1mm, 7 x multicore)
screened; 85pF/m; 384 /km
18
AD621AN
2 1
8
3 5 4
7
+Vss
-Vss
6
150K
+Vss
-Vss
100K
10K
17
19
14
15
1
2
30
29
Vo
COM
+15V
GND
Policarbonato
1 F 5%
AD210BN
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10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
110
E
-
t
o
t

(
m
l
O
2
/
K
g
/
m
i
n
)
1.0 m/s 1.2 m/s 1.4 m/s 1.6 m/s
Free
Fly
Breast
Back
Biophysical approaches
N = 26 (8 Fem, 18 Mal)
P = 0.5 P = 0.5 P = 0.5 P = 0.5 C CC C
D DD D
S v S v S v S v
3 3 3 3
EC = f ( EC = f ( EC = f ( EC = f ( v/c v/c v/c v/c) )) )
N = 5 N = 5 N = 5 N = 5
3 x 200 (75, 85, 100%) 3 x 200 (75, 85, 100%) 3 x 200 (75, 85, 100%) 3 x 200 (75, 85, 100%)
30 min rest 30 min rest 30 min rest 30 min rest
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Mechanisms for
the production of
hydrodynamic
propulsion
We dont know exactly how the
swimming movements propels the
swimming body through the water,
and the complex flow patterns found
in the real conditions make difficult
any mathematical analysis
Gadd (1963, p. 483)
- theory of non viscous flow
over slender bodies
- theory of quasi-static flow
Static flow (stable flow)
Quasi static flow
Unstable flow (non static flow)
Propulsive drag theory
Propulsive lift (foil) theory
Propulsive vortex theory
Present theoretical situation:
Propulsive drag
theory
Cureton (1930)
Counsilman (1968)
According to the
propulsive drag theory:
Swimmers propelled themselves through
successive propulsive segmental actions
that intend to push water backwards in
relation to the intended direction for entire
body movement
Theoretical background:
Newton's 3
th
low of motion (action / reaction)
(propulsive ) DRAG force Newtonian equation:
D
P
= Hydrodynamic (propulsive) drag force
= water specific mass
C
D
= drag force coefficient
v = relative velocity
S = Maximal cross-sectional area normal to force direction
D
P
= 0.5 C
D
v
2
S
Shoulder / hand
Hand / water Shoulder / water
Main reasons for
hydrodynamic drag force theory
popularity
(Barthels, 1977)
- The swimmer perceives his movements as backward
oriented movements
- A exterior observer perceives the swimmers movements
as backward oriented movements
Kinematic references
Permanent light-trace photography
Photogrametry
Anatomic
markers
(actives)
LEDs & lamps
Vilas-Boas (1993); Vilas-Boas & Ferreira da Silva (1993)
Vilas-Boas (1993)
Photogrametry
Vilas-Boas & Ferreira da Silva (1993).
Anlise cinemtica da tcnica de bruos ondulatrio
com recuperao area dos membros superiores
Alves & Vilas-Boas (1992). Kinematical
analysis of freestyle hand-path with and
without hand-paddles
Permanent light-trace
photography
Vilas-Boas et al. (1996). Movement analysis in simultaneous swimming techniques.
FTUDSP
FHUDSP
FIT =
FHUDSP
FTUDSP
HiTDSP
HiHD
HiIT =
HiTDSP
HiHD
HA-PHD
HD
HA-PHD
HD
IH =
Vilas-Boas & Cunha (1995). Fatigue related technical changes in butterfly swimming.
Photogrametry
Permanent light-trace
photography
Propulsive lift
(foil) theory
Counsilman (1971)
Schleihauf (1974, 1979, 1984, 1986)
Schleihauf et al. (1983, 1988)
Wood (1979)
Berger (1996)
Berger et al. (1996)

Basic assumption:
Part, or the totality, of the
propulsive segments are
able to produce a
hydrodynamic force
perpendicular to its
direction of movement
relative to the fluid.
Lift force:
Defined as a hydrodynamic
force perpendicular to the
bodys direction of motion.
Characteristics of the in-fluid moving bodies that allow
the production of a hydrodynamic force perpendicular to
the relative direction of movement:
Nortrip et al. (1974)
- The body has a aerofoil shape
- Translation occurs together with a
rotational movement of the body
- The surface of the body is oriented with a
acute angle in relation to its direction of
movement
Bernoulli theorem:
For ideal fluids, there exists an
inverse relationship between
velocity and pressure
Magnus effect
> V; < P
< V; > P
Schleihauf (1974, 1979, 1984, 1986)
Schleihauf et al. (1983, 1988)
Wood (1979)
Berger (1996)
Berger et al. (1996)
The Human hand and forearm are
able to produce hydrodynamic lift
forces due to the similarity of its
shapes with a aerofoil shape.
Production of
hydrodynamic lift
force by a aerofoil
shape object
(propulsive) LIFT force Newtonian equation:
L = Hydrodynamic (propulsive) lift force
= water specific mass
C
L
= lift force coefficient
v = relative velocity
S
L
= Maximal cross-sectional area normal to force direction
L = 0.5 C
L
v
2
S
L
Thomson theorem:
Into a non-viscous
incompressible flow
submitted to the action
of potential massic
forces, the velocity
circulation along any
close fluid contour is
constant on time.
Is hydrodynamic LIFT FORCE the...
...only propulsive force in
swimming?
...main propulsive force in
swimming?
L
Dp
R
X
Critics to the foil theory
Unsteady flow Steady flow vs.
Newton vs. Bernoulli
???
Critics to the foil theory
Evidencies pro-foil
Propulsive surfaces are not Propulsive surfaces are not Propulsive surfaces are not Propulsive surfaces are not
hydrodynamic neutral hydrodynamic neutral hydrodynamic neutral hydrodynamic neutral
(Berger, 1996)
Presence of tip vortexes Presence of tip vortexes Presence of tip vortexes Presence of tip vortexes
Tortuosity Tortuosity Tortuosity Tortuosity of limb movements of limb movements of limb movements of limb movements
and prevalence of vertical and and prevalence of vertical and and prevalence of vertical and and prevalence of vertical and
medium medium medium medium- -- -lateral displacements. lateral displacements. lateral displacements. lateral displacements.
(Schleihauf, 1979) (Reischle, 1988)
CFD- Computer Flow Dynamics
Fluent software
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0.05 1.10 90
0.32 0.63 45
0.18 0.35 0
C
L
C
D

Marinho, D.A.; Reis, V.M.; Vilas-Boas, J.P.; Alves, F.B.; Machado, L.;
Rouboa, A.I.; Silva, A.J. (2010). Design of a three-dimensional
hand/forearm model to apply Computational Fluid Dynamics. Brazilian
Archives of Biology and Technology, 53 (2): 437-442.
D
r
a
g
f
o
r
c
e

(
N
)
Velocity (m/s)
CFD- Computer Flow Dynamics
Fluent software
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Angle of attack ()
D
r
a
g

c
o
e
f
f
i
c
i
e
n
t
0,1
0,3
0,5
0,7
0,9
1,1
0 15 30 45 60 75 90
Fingers "abertos"
Fingers "semi-
abertos"
Fingers "fechados"
0,1
0,3
0,5
0,7
0 15 30 45 60 75 90
0.64 cm spread
0.32 cm spread
closed
Fingers
Attack angle (degrees)
Angle of attack ()
L
i
f
t

c
o
e
f
f
i
c
i
e
n
t
Marinho, D.A.; Barbosa, T.M.; Reis, V.M.; Kjendlie, P.L.; Alves, F.B.; Vilas-Boas,
J.P.; Machado, L.; Silva, A.J.; Rouboa, A.I. (2010). Swimming propulsion forces
are enhanced by a small finger spread. Journal of Applied Biomechanics, 26: 87-
92.
Effective hydrodynamic
propulsive force:
The component on the direction of intended body motion, of
the...
...resultant force (R) of
hydrodynamic propulsive lift (L)
and
hydrodynamic propulsive drag (D
P
)
forces
P PP P
L LL L
Dp Dp Dp Dp
R RR R
Propulsive segments hydrodynamic configuration:
Orientation relatively to the flow
Inclination relatively to the flow
Angle of attack
( )
Angle of orientation
- Sweepback - ( )
C
L
values C
D
values
Robert Schleihauf Jr. (1979)
Finger positions Tumb positions
Robert Schleihauf Jr. (1979)
Toussaint (2002)
Intensity of
P

Direction of the successive

phases of the propulsive
pathway of propulsive
segments

Velocity of
segments
Circumstantial
characteristics
of segments
Adapted from Vilas-Boas (1986)
direction, orientation, intensity
of DP, L and R
The kinetic analysis of swimming techniques showed:
Propulsion produced at least from the arms
action is (partly) due to a combination of
propulsive drag and propulsive lift forces.
Circumstantially one or the other of both forces
assumes a more relevant propulsive role.
(Schleihauf, 1974, 1979, 1984, 1986; Wood, 1979; Schleihauf et al.,
1983, 1988; Thayer et al., 1986; Berger, 1996; Berger et al., 1996)
These findings do not exclude the contribution of other
propulsive mechanisms.
General methodology used by Schleihauf
Schleihauf (1974, 1979, 1984, 1986) and Schleihauf et al. (1983, 1988):
To assess C
D
and C
L
values for the human hand in
different positions (fingers and thumb) and different
orientations;
To determine the hand pathway, velocity, orientation
and inclination (attack)
To combine both steps for the assessment of L, D
P
and R
Kolmogorov e Cappaert (sd). Personal repport
81.33
12.09
.308
0.061
Kolmogorov e Cappaert (sd). Personal repport
Kolmogorov e Cappaert (sd). Personal repport
Kolmogorov e Cappaert (sd). Personal repport
Kolmogorov e Cappaert (sd). Personal repport
Propulsive vortex
theory
Colwin
Ungerecht
Colman
Arellano
Specially centred into leg
actions of front crawl,
backstroke and butterfly
Propulsive vortex theory
Lift force paradox for leg kick
sinusoidal movements
(crawl, back-crawl and butterfly)
(Maglischo, 1982)
Vortex:
mass of
water
animated
of an
organized
rotational
movement
Vortex (flow) visualization:
Water aeration
Water coloration
Extremity
vortices and
propulsive lift
theory
aerofoil effect
Extremity vortices
Ring (or cylinder)
vortices and
unsteady flow
propulsive theory
Unsteady flow
Colwin approach
Colwin approach
Ungerecht approach
Arellano
Synthesis of today
conception of human
swimming propulsion
We are convinced that:
Newtonian action / reaction is present
Bernoullian lift and / or other lift forces are present
Propulsive drag force plays a very important role
Unstable flow situations are determinant
Rotating water plays a determinant role
Thank you very much!
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