Summer holidays are in full swing and for many, playing sports and attending sporting events is an annual tradition. This month, we are celebrating all things sports, and we are pleased to share a special Sports Spotlight blog series that dives into some fascinating stories from Dassault Systèmes about how our customers are designing new products and improving access to state-of-the-art equipment.
You can read on to learn about new materials that will enhance footwear performance, different simulations of tennis and soccer plays and even share a history lesson on the evolution of sports medals.
Bringing access to elite-level athletic equipment to everyone
The link between top-notch gear and athletic success is strong. From amazing performance-boosting shoes to High-Tech wearable gadgets and super sleek swimsuits, new technology is helping to push the limits of what athletes can achieve. These advancements, which used to be just for the pros, are now becoming more accessible to everyone. This signals a new era of high-performance gear available to a broader audience.
Personalized equipment such as custom shoe inserts and protective helmets substantially reduce injury risks, helping athletes to pursue their passions more confidently and safely.
And, the proliferation of wearable technology and sophisticated analytics has transformed training methodologies, enabling athletes to customize their training regimes based on precise data about their physical responses.
As a result, this democratization of advanced sports technology and data analytics not only equalizes the competitive field but also cultivates a culture of excellence and safety. The ongoing evolution of technology and athletic gear promises to further improve performance standards, transforming yesterday’s unimaginable achievements into today’s attainable goals.
Read the entire story: How technology democratizes access to elite-level sports equipment
Leading the way in ocean racing using virtual twins
The Transat Jacques Vabre, a challenging 7,500-mile ocean race, showcases the sleek beauty and power of the SVR-LAZARTIGUE, an innovative Ultim ocean-racing trimaran designed by François Gabart’s MerConcept. This racing boat exemplifies advanced maritime engineering, achieving second place in its first race in 2023.
MerConcept collaborated with Dassault Systèmes and adopted the 3DEXPERIENCE platform to blend deep industry knowledge and cutting-edge technology. This partnership has enabled MerConcept to excel in design and engineering, leveraging cloud-based collaborative tools and Virtual Twin experiences to continually refine SVR-LAZARTIGUE’s performance. By focusing on aerodynamics and using simulation technology for design optimization, MerConcept and Dassault Systèmes have positioned SVR-LAZARTIGUE as a standout in ocean racing, illustrating the transformative power of innovation and collaboration in pushing the boundaries of speed and efficiency on the water.
Read the entire story: Transforming Marine Innovation: How MerConcept Leads in Ocean Racing with the 3DEXPERIENCE platform
Designing medals in a virtual world
The tradition of awarding medals in sports dates back to the first modern sports event in Athens in 1896, where winners received silver medals and olive wreaths, and second-place finishers got bronze medals. The current tradition of awarding gold, silver and bronze medals began in 1904. Over time, the design and composition of sports medals have evolved, incorporating elements of a local country’s culture and made from durable materials like zinc alloy and stainless iron. Medals are significant as they symbolize achievement, boost an athlete’s self-esteem and motivation, create lasting memories and personalized keepsakes, and promote community and teamwork. Additionally, they hold cultural significance, embodying the values and history of the event or organization.
Medal design technology has expanded into the virtual realm. Companies like COSMYX leverage state-of-the-art technologies such as robotic simulation and additive manufacturing. By using SIMULIA and SOLIDWORKS, COSMYX offers customization and establishes a new industry standard by enabling the production of high-quality, unique and customized medals.
Read the entire story: Creating sports medals in a virtual world
Simulating tennis swings and soccer kicks
When it comes to understanding the dynamics of how a tennis ball behaves, simulation tests offer a fascinating glimpse into how spins like topspin and backspin affect the ball’s path by using the Magnus Effect. This well-known study simulates the motion of an object spinning through liquid. Using SIMULIA Fluids solutions, users can vividly display how aerodynamic forces and airflow dynamics influence the ball’s trajectory, all achieved through the precision of SIMULIA PowerFLOW.
Beyond benefiting the sporting goods industry, these insights have the potential to make a difference in other fields where similar aerodynamic principles are at play. By gaining a deeper understanding of the Magnus Effect, we’re unlocking new possibilities for refining equipment design and performance improvements across different domains.
Read the entire story: Game set match! Simulation of the Magnus Effect in tennis
In another fascinating exploration of simulation, Mattias Robertsson, an industry process senior consultant at Dassault Systèmes, studies the interaction between a football and a test dummy named Bruce. This simulation performed impact analysis through dynamic, adaptive time steps. This advanced approach allowed for slow-motion analyses of impacts, capturing intricate details through high-output frames. This method proves the extensive potential of virtual testing for analyzing complex sports interactions and shows its wide-ranging benefits across industries. It offers a compelling alternative to traditional, labor-intensive physical testing methods. Robertsson’s work illustrates the significant advantages of using virtual environments for detailed and cost-effective product development, enhancing stakeholder communication.
Read the entire story: Gooaaalll!!! Soccer Simulation with Structural Mechanics Engineer Role
Revolutionizing footwear using advanced composite materials
The footwear industry is being transformed by using advanced composite materials, revolutionizing how shoes are crafted and experienced. These innovative materials result from combining different components, yielding a new material with enhanced properties.
Their integration into footwear brings many advantages, including lightweight construction, heightened durability and superior strength and flexibility, ultimately elevating performance and comfort in shoe design. Recent advancements have expanded their potential for creating more comfortable and long-lasting footwear tailored to specific activities. Continuous innovations in composite material design, driven by computational modeling and experimental techniques, aim to optimize performance to the fullest. Additional study is underway to address the sustainability of these materials through the development of biodegradable composites and efficient recycling processes to reduce the environmental impact of footwear production and disposal.
Read the entire story: Revolutionizing footwear
Maryann is a Senior Communications Manager on the Dassault Systèmes corporate communications team. She’s been with the company for over 16 years, in roles ranging from marketing communications,internal communications, creative and branding, blogging to marketing programs manager.