Abstract
Badminton is a high-drag game, and thus, the sport has been a subject of research from the point of view of aerodynamics. A badminton shuttlecock generates significant aerodynamic drag and has a complex flight trajectory. The primary objectives of this study were to measure the aerodynamic properties of feather shuttlecocks under a wide range of wind speeds and pitch angles. In particular, measurements of aerodynamic forces were performed at high Reynolds numbers, and the effect of spin rotation of the shuttlecock on aerodynamic properties was also investigated. The lift and drag characteristics of shuttlecock have the same tendency with and without spin rotation. On the other hand, the pitching moment coefficient is affected by spin rotation. The pitching moment for a rotating shuttlecock is larger than that for a non-rotating shuttlecock, and that the pitching moment increases with an increase in the angle of attack. A shuttlecock is aerodynamically stable, and this aerodynamic stability is promoted by spin rotation.
