A computer simulation of the flying disc based on the wind tunnel test data

The purpose of this study was validation of a computer simulation on the flight of the flying disc. The flying disc, widely known as the Frisbee™, is thrown with rotation for its stable flight. The flight characteristics of the flying disc were identical in comparison with other flying sports materials. The flying disc can keep its lift and glide in the air by the wing effect. However, the traveling direction of the disc was steeply changed in particular conditions. In order to explain this phenomenon, the precise simulation of the disc movement is necessary. In this study, a computer simulation of the flying disc was accomplished. In advance of the simulation, both the three-axial forces and moments acting on the disc were measured in a wind tunnel test for the simulation. For the validation of the simulation results, the authors conducted an experiment using a motion capture system to obtain real flying disc kinematical parameters.