Sports and Building Aerodynamics from Coursera

COURSE ABSTRACT:

Have we reached the boundaries of what can be achieved in sports and building design? The answer is definitely “NO”. This course explains basic aspects of bluff body aerodynamics, wind tunnel testing and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations with application to sports and building aerodynamics. It is intended for anyone with a strong interest in these topics. Key fields addressed are urban physics, wind engineering and sports aerodynamics.

COURSE CONTENTS:

The course consists of 6 weeks. The first 3 weeks are on fundamentals, the second 3 weeks on applications.

- Week 1: Basic aspects of fluid flow

- Week 2: Wind-tunnel testing

- Week 3: Computational Fluid Dynamics

- Week 4: Building aerodynamics

- Week 5: 100 m sprint aerodynamics

- Week 6: Cycling aerodynamics

COURSE UPGRADES:

In January-February 2017, the course will be upgraded/extended with:

- New modules on cycling aerodynamics

- Week 7: Climate adaptation of buildings and cities

- Week 8: Air pollution

If you want to take the upgraded/extended course, please wait with enrollment until mid February.

LECTURER:

The lecturer is Bert Blocken, professor at Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands and KU Leuven in Belgium. He is a Civil Engineer holding a PhD in Building Physics. His main areas of expertise are urban physics, wind engineering and sports aerodynamics. He has published 126 papers in international peer-reviewed journals. He has received the 2013 Junior Award from the International Association of Wind Engineering and six best paper awards from the Elsevier ISI journal Building & Environment (2009, 2011, 2012) and at international conferences. According to the 2016 Academic Ranking of World Universities (Shanghai Ranking) & Elsevier, he is among the 150 most cited researchers world-wide both in the field of Civil Engineering and in the field of Energy Science & Engineering. Since Dec 2016, he is editor of the ISI journal Building & Environment and starting 2017, he is also associate editor of the ISI Journal of Wind Engineering & Industrial Aerodynamics. He is member of the editorial board of the ISI journals Building Simulation and Sports Engineering. He has acted as a reviewer for more than 70 different ISI journals. He is currently supervising a team of 4 senior researchers, 32 PhD students and 5 MSc students.

What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction movies & Basic aspects of fluid flow

This series of lectures outlines some basic aspects of fluid flow. It starts with the fluid properties velocity, pressure, temperature, density and viscosity. It continues with flow properties such as viscous versus inviscid flow, compressible versus incompressible flow, confined versus open flow, steady versus unsteady flow, stationary versus non-stationary flow and laminar versus turbulent flow. It also addresses some basic components of fluid statics, kinematics and dynamics. The last lectures are focused on the important concept of the boundary layer. Laminar versus turbulent boundary layers, boundary layer separation and obstacle form drag versus friction drag are explained. Finally, the module ends with a lecture on a special type of boundary layer: the atmospheric boundary layer, in which sports and building aerodynamics take place.

Wind-tunnel testing

This series of lectures provides some fundamental aspects of wind-tunnel testing. First, the reasons why wind-tunnel testing is still important are outlined. Next, different types of wind tunnels and applications of wind-tunnel testing are discussed. As a special type of wind tunnel, the atmospheric boundary layer wind tunnel is described. Further lectures focus on the different wind-tunnel components, on measurements and flow visualization, on similarity and flow quality and on important best practice guidelines for high-quality wind-tunnel testing.

Computational Fluid Dynamics

This series of lectures provides the basics of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) with focus on application to Sports & Building Aerodynamics. First, the possibilities and limitations of CFD are outlined. Next, the main approaches for solving and modeling turbulent flow are explained, after which some basic aspects of discretization and near-wall modeling are described. After that, we focus on the important topics of errors, uncertainties, verification and validation in CFD. The series is concluded with two lectures that provide an overview of the past achievements and future challenges in Computational Wind Engineering.

Building aerodynamics

The lecture series on Building Aerodynamics consists of 10 lectures. The first two lectures provide basic information about the wind flow around isolated buildings and generic building groups. Three lectures focus on the important problem of pedestrian-level wind discomfort and wind danger around buildings. One lecture addresses natural ventilation of buildings, focused on the ventilation study for a large football stadium in the Netherlands. Two lectures address wind-driven rain on building facades, and the final two lectures are devoted to wind energy in the built environment, where some important misconceptions are highlighted and explained.

100 m sprint aerodynamics

This short lecture series addresses the aerodynamics of the 100 m sprint, including aerodynamic effects generated by the stadium. The first lecture explains the importance of aerodynamics in the 100 m sprint competition. Next, an existing mathematical-physical model of short-distance running is outlined. Based on this model, further lectures investigate wind effects and altitude effects on 100 m sprint performances and on potential world records. Finally, the potential influence of the geometry of the sports stadium on records established in it is explained, and the lecture series is concluded by an interview with a professional athletics coach.

Cycling aerodynamics

The lecture series on cycling aerodynamics consists of 8 lectures. In the first lecture, the importance of aerodynamics in cycling is outlined. In the next two lectures, wind-tunnel testing of real and dummy cyclists is presented. The next lectures focus on CFD studies of the aerodynamics of a single cyclist, aerodynamics of two drafting cyclists and aerodynamics of drafting cyclist groups. After that, the aerodynamic interaction between a cyclist and a following car is studied. Finally, the series is concluded by an interview with two professional cycling coaches.

Final quiz

The final quiz contains questions covering all 6 weeks. The minimum score to pass the course is 80%. 3 attempts can be taken. Partial feedback (correct / incorrect) will be given after every attempt. Points for multiple-choice questions with multiple correct answers are only obtained when all correct answers are labeled as such by the student.

Peer-graded assignment

The peer-graded assignment includes the critical review of a scientific article based on the knowledge gained throughout the MOOC. The review consists of three parts: (1) performing a detailed study of the article; (2) providing a detailed answer to a set of specific questions; (3) grading at least 5 assignments of colleague students / peers.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Covers a wide range of topics, making it suitable for various applications

Provides a balance of theoretical and practical aspects, enhancing comprehension

Incorporates case studies and examples from real-life applications

Led by an experienced instructor with extensive expertise in the field

Offers optional upgrades to enhance the learning experience further

Reviews summary

Aerodynamics in sports and buildings

Students say that this course is an excellent resource for learning about the fundamental principles of fluid mechanics, wind tunnel simulations, and CFD. They appreciate the high-quality videos, engaging assignments, and clear explanations from the instructor. The course is especially well-received by those interested in aerodynamics in sports and buildings. Key features include lectures, readings, quizzes, and a final assignment.

The course is challenging but manageable, especially for those with some background in fluid mechanics.

"The course content is difficult and requires a lot of time to comprehend."

"It will be better if you already had some fundamental knowledge in this field."

"Great course! Thank you very much."

Engaging assignments that help to reinforce the material covered in the lectures.

"The inclusion of interviews with coaches and showing us the actual scene at a wind tunnel provided quite an interesting experience."

"Week quizzes actually demand you to watch and know the topics that had been presented, so it is not just a "bureaucracy""

"Interestingly structured course: not only theoretical but also includes many real case examples about the explained phenomena, as well as peer review grading, which provides extra knowledge and helps improve the understanding of the course material."

Engaging and knowledgeable instructor who presents the material in a clear and concise manner.

"Easily the best course I have ever come across online, with a passionate lecturer on screen providing quality content and unique perspectives."

"Mr Blocken successfully presented a lot of complex concepts with the right level of complexity in order to have this course entertaining and not last 3 years to get every little detail. I enjoyed it very much."

"An excellent course, presented in a very detailed fashion"

Excellent course content that is well-organized and easy to follow.

"Came to this course looking to enlarge my theoretical background, but found even more."

"How to apply air dynamics knowledge to different fields, some guidelines to perform feasible simulations and rare counter-intuitive effects to keep in mind, all explained in a perfect path by professor Bert Blocken, to whom I want to thank for this MOOC."

"This course is an excellent resource to the beginners such as mine."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Sports and Building Aerodynamics with these activities:

Review fluid flow dynamics

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Reviewing fluid flow dynamics can provide a stronger foundation for understanding the principles explored in this course.

Browse courses on Fluid Mechanics

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Review fundamental concepts like velocity, pressure, and density.
Explore different flow types such as laminar and turbulent flow.
Examine the concept of the boundary layer and its significance.

Read 'Fluid Mechanics' by Pijush K. Kundu

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This book provides a comprehensive overview of fluid mechanics, offering valuable insights applicable to the topics of this course.

View Fluid Mechanics on Amazon

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Read chapters related to fluid properties, flow regimes, and boundary layers.
Review examples and solved problems to reinforce understanding.

Engage in peer discussions on building aerodynamics

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Participating in peer discussions can foster a deeper understanding of building aerodynamics and encourage diverse perspectives.

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Join online forums or discussion groups dedicated to building aerodynamics.
Actively engage in discussions, sharing insights and seeking clarification.

Five other activities

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Show all eight activities

Practice wind tunnel testing concepts

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Engaging in practice drills related to wind tunnel testing can enhance understanding of experimental methods used in the field.

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Simulate wind tunnel experiments using online tools or software.
Analyze data and interpret results to draw meaningful conclusions.

Develop a presentation on 100 m sprint aerodynamics

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Creating a presentation on 100 m sprint aerodynamics can reinforce understanding of the factors influencing performance in this event.

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Research and gather information on the topic.
Organize and structure the content in a logical and engaging manner.
Design visual aids to illustrate key concepts.

Explore CFD simulations using online tutorials

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Following guided tutorials on CFD simulations can provide practical experience in applying computational methods to fluid flow analysis.

Browse courses on Computational Fluid Dynamics

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Identify reputable online tutorials that cover CFD basics and applications.
Work through tutorials to gain hands-on experience in using CFD software.

Assist in a cycling aerodynamics research project

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Volunteering in a cycling aerodynamics research project offers hands-on experience and insights into real-world applications.

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Reach out to universities or research institutions with cycling aerodynamics programs.
Inquire about volunteer opportunities and express interest in assisting with research projects.

Contribute to open-source CFD software

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Contributing to open-source CFD software provides practical experience in software development and deepens understanding of CFD algorithms.

Browse courses on Open-Source Software

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Identify open-source CFD projects on platforms like GitHub.
Review documentation and familiarize yourself with the codebase.
Propose and implement improvements or bug fixes.

Career center

Learners who complete Sports and Building Aerodynamics will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Sports Scientist

Sports scientists study the science of sports. This course can help you build a foundation in the fundamentals of sports aerodynamics, which is an important aspect of sports science.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sports Scientist

Aerodynamicist

Aerodynamicists study the movement of air and other gases around objects. This course can help you build a foundation in the fundamentals of fluid flow and aerodynamics.

See salaries and explore the career path for Aerodynamicist

Computational Fluid Dynamicist

Computational fluid dynamicists use computers to simulate the flow of fluids. This course can help you build a foundation in the fundamentals of computational fluid dynamics, which is an important tool for aerodynamicists and other engineers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Computational Fluid Dynamicist

Civil Engineer

Civil engineers design and build infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, and buildings. This course can help you build a foundation in the fundamentals of building aerodynamics, which is an important aspect of civil engineering.

See salaries and explore the career path for Civil Engineer

Mechanical Engineer

Mechanical engineers design and build machines. This course can help you build a foundation in the fundamentals of fluid flow and aerodynamics, which are important aspects of mechanical engineering.

See salaries and explore the career path for Mechanical Engineer

Building Scientist

Building scientists study the design and performance of buildings, including how they interact with the environment. This course can help you build a foundation in the fundamentals of building aerodynamics, which is an important aspect of building design.

See salaries and explore the career path for Building Scientist

Environmental Engineer

Environmental engineers design and implement systems to protect the environment. This course can help you build a foundation in the fundamentals of environmental aerodynamics, which is an important aspect of environmental engineering.

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Naval Architect

Naval architects design and build ships. This course can help you build a foundation in the fundamentals of building aerodynamics, which is an important aspect of naval architecture.

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Hydrologist

Hydrologists study the movement of water. This course can help you build a foundation in the fundamentals of fluid flow, which is an important aspect of hydrology.

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Meteorologist

Meteorologists study the atmosphere. This course can help you build a foundation in the fundamentals of fluid flow, which is an important aspect of meteorology.

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Data Scientist

Data scientists use data to solve problems. This course can help you build a foundation in the fundamentals of data analysis, which is an important skill for data scientists in many fields.

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Geotechnical Engineer

Geotechnical engineers study the behavior of soil and rock. This course can help you build a foundation in the fundamentals of fluid flow, which is an important aspect of geotechnical engineering.

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Ocean Engineer

Ocean engineers design and build structures in the ocean. This course can help you build a foundation in the fundamentals of fluid flow, which is an important aspect of ocean engineering.

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Petroleum Engineer

Petroleum engineers design and build systems to extract oil and gas from the earth. This course may help you build a foundation in the fundamentals of fluid flow, which is an important aspect of petroleum engineering.

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Materials Scientist

Materials scientists study the properties of materials. This course may help you build a foundation in the fundamentals of fluid flow, which is an important aspect of materials science.

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