AeroNodes technology by Richard Kelso team at Adelaide University helps produce 2022 one-hour cycle world record
Cycling helmet dynamics have been among projects pursued by professor Richard Kelso's team at Adelaide University school of mechanical engineering. Inset: The Pinarello Bolide F HR 3D bike using AeroNodes technology developed by the university's team to produce the 2022 one-hour cycling receord.
Images courtesy University of Adelaide and BicycleSA
Technology developed and patented by Adelaide University researchers powered Olympic and world track cycling champion Filippo Ganna to a world record one-hour ride in Grenchen, Switzerland, in October 2022.
In the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) Hour Record Timed by Tissot event, Ganna completed 56.792 kilometres, beating the previous record of 55.548 kilometres. Ganna rode a Pinarello Bolide F HR 3D bike using AeroNodes, a technology developed at Adelaide University’s school of mechanical engineering in its sciences, engineering and technology faculty.
The AeroNodes low-drag technology project was led by adjunct association professor Richard Kelso with principal interests in flow structure and control applied to aerospace engineering, wind engineering and sports aerodynamics. AeroNodes were precision bumps that reduced the drag on the bicycle frame in a key area of high turbulence. Kelso said this allowed the cyclist to travel further and faster for the same effort: “We have been working on this technology since 2006, first using them to improve the performance of aircraft wings and fans.”
This was applied to bicycle frames when the Adelaide University team noticed airflow around the seat tube alternated through a wide angle as the cyclist pedalled, leading to separated flow and increased drag. It discovered bumps, or AeroNodes, on the front surface could minimise this separation effect and reduce the drag significantly by generating a regular pattern of vortices around the seat tube.
Standard manufacturing such as carbon fibre moulding couldn’t easily produce such small features. Engineers at bike maker Pinarello and their United Kindom partner Metron Additive Engineering solved this problem by using cutting-edge 3D printing technology and a new high-strength alloy to produce the optimised AeroNode shapes. They achieved the first 3D printed bicycle that was fully ridable, UCI-compliant, passing the ISO4210 and ridden by a world champion. Madderns law firm in Adelaide helped patent the AeroNode technology for the university.
Kelso, assisted by PhD candidate Ryan Leknys and several Adelaide University engineering honours students, also previously produced the aerodynamic Scott-Cadence Plus cycling helmet, first won by Orica GreenEDGE team in the Tour de France.
