The Physics of Soccer
How fluid dynamics shape the world's most popular sport: from the curl of a free kick to the geometry of a defensive block.
I've always been fascinated by how sports are fundamentally shaped by invisible forces: the curl of a free kick, the drag on a long-range shot, the way players position themselves to block passing lanes. This project is my exploration of fluid dynamics through the lens of the sport I love. By building CFD simulations with ΦFlow and SU2, I've been experimenting with how computational physics can reveal the hidden structure in everyday life: from the wake behind a cylinder to the stress fields in a football formation. Every flight of a ball, every gust of wind on the pitch, every defensive shift is now a boundary condition waiting to be understood.
Project Overview
This project is split up into five main sections:
Theory
What is CFD and how the simulations work under the hood. Understanding the physics behind the simulations: from the Navier-Stokes equations to the Magnus effect.
Explore →CFD Methodology
Mesh generation, solver setup, boundary conditions, turbulence models (SST $k$-$\omega$), and all simulation parameters documented for engineers.
Explore →Shot Aerodynamics
Animations of the Magnus effect vs the knuckleball. How does spin and draft change the flight of a soccer ball? Built for the casual fan.
Explore →Tactical Positioning
Players modeled as influence zones and bluff bodies. Using defensive pressure fields to examine 4 tactical formations.
Explore →Overlap Run Analysis
CFD analysis of the overlapping fullback: wake dynamics, drag reduction at varying gaps, and the energy saved during a sprinting overlap.
Explore →