Finite Element Analysis of a Golf Ball and Driver Head Impact: Understanding the Feasibility of an Acoustical Optimization

An acoustic profile from the impact between a golf ball and driver head was produced using FEA. Following this, the results were analyzed to determine the feasibility of an acoustical optimization of such an impact. A validation of the FEA program LS-DYNA® was undertaken to ensure a proper solution was attained in the software analysis. An experimental and theoretical validation was performed that involved firing a golf ball at a titanium plate and comparing data from the impact to FEA simulations. Once the FEA program was validated, a golf club driver head model was used to generate an acoustical output using LS-DYNA®. By comparing this acoustic output to real driver head sound data, a feasibility of profiling good and bad sound was established. Using the optimization add-on program LS-OPT® a simple shape optimization was performed to maximize the speed of the ball after the impact. This new geometry of the club head was acoustically analyzed and the results were compared to the non-optimized case and shown to be distinct. The simulation results, however, did not compare well with the real driver head data and more analysis would be needed to improve upon the results. Overall, the project was able to establish an analytical relationship to the acoustics generated and produce a solid foundation for the possibilities of an acoustical optimization.

Name thesis:degree_name

MS in Mechanical Engineering

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Mechanical Engineering

Year dc:date.available

2010

Author dc:creator

• Volkoff-Shoemaker, Nickolai A

Contributors dc:contributor

• Tom Mase

Identifier

10.15368/theses.2010.2

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:theses-1242