Abstract
The Magnus effect and the reverse Magnus effect are studied on golf balls and on smooth balls, each of which are moving in still air. The fluid motion around the balls is measured using 2-component particle image velocimetry (PIV). The PIV data are used to compute the out-of-plane component of vorticity, and the vorticity field, along with the velocity field, is used to find the locations and state of the boundary layers at separation on the top and bottom of the ball. The reverse Magnus effect occurs when the spin is sufficient to cause the retreating boundary layer to be laminar, while the advancing side is turbulent. The reverse Magnus regime ends when the retreating side becomes turbulent due to the separation point moving into a strong adverse pressure gradient on the rear of the ball.
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Professor Lloyd Smith and Jeff Kensrud of the Washington State University Sports Sciences Laboratory for financial support, the use of the cannon and the suggestion of this study.
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Sakib, N., Smith, B.L. Study of the reverse Magnus effect on a golf ball and a smooth ball moving through still air. Exp Fluids 61, 115 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-020-02946-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-020-02946-2