Evaluation of the ice sheet conditions through applying CFD to the curling hall

Abstract

In curling, the evaluation of the ice sheet condition determines the accuracy of shots and affects victory or defeat. However, its evaluation depends on individual sensory perception and there is no clear index. It is also difficult to measure the ice sheet condition because it varies depending on multiple factors such as temperature, humidity, and air flow in the curling hall. In this study, we develop the numerical approach to evaluate the ice sheet condition with the aim of unifying the senses within a team and leading to a decision for reliable strategy to enhance team performance. In this paper, we conducted CFD using temperature, wind speed, and other data measured at an actual curling hall to grasp the overall condition of the curling hall. The results were compared with the actual measured values, and it showed a similar trend. We also evaluated the ice sheet condition using the condensation rate giving from CFD results.