RESEARCH ON THE AERODYNAMIC DRAG REDUCTION EFFECT OF DRAFTING FORMATIONS IN LONG-DISTANCE RUNNING

In competitive sports, adopting drafting formation strategies to reduce aerodynamic drag and achieve better performance is a common practice. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was used to simulate the flow fields of a single runner and drafting formations with two, three, and four runners, quantifying the aerodynamic drag for each runner in different configurations. Compared to a single runner, the maximum drag reduction rates for two-, three-, and four-runner formations reach 50.41%, 57.27%, and 63.10%, respectively. In drafting formations, runner positioned in the wake of a leading runner experience reduced airflow speed and windward pressure, directly lowering drag. Notably, when only one leading runner leads the formation, their individual drag decreases slightly; however, when two or three runners form a front row, their combined airflow-blocking effect increases winward pressure, resulting in higher drag for front-row runners. This study on aerodynamic drag in different drafting formations provides empirical insights for optimizing competitive strategies, thereby enhaning performance potential in team running events.