Development of a universal FE model of a cricket ball
Creators: name: Cheng, Ning
Publisher: name: RMIT University
Year: 2024

description: In cricket, high speed impacts occur between the cricket ball and the bat, player and their protective equipment. Improved understanding of impact dynamics has the potential to significantly improve the development of cricket equipment and also contribute to improving the player’s safety and performance. In particular, development of high performance cricket balls with enhanced structural properties (e.g. improved durability) would benefit greatly from such insight. In order to gain more insight into the impact dynamics of cricket balls, appropriate structural models of the ball are required. This work presents two fast-solving numerical models, a detailed multi-layer FE model as well as a universal FE model, for the structural analysis of cricket balls. The models were derived using experimental data obtained from tests developed for this purpose, including drop tests and high speed impact tests. The experimental work presented in this study included measurements of the impact behaviour of two-layer, three-layer, and five-layer cricket balls using a dynamic signal analyser and high speed video analysis software. The ball properties obtained experimentally were used to develop two mathematical models: a single-element model and a three-element model. These cricket ball models have been developed so that they capture the key characteristics of ball-impact behaviour while allowing for fast-solving dynamic simulation. The stiffness and damping properties of both models were determined using a novel fast-solving genetic algorithm. These models predict the force-time diagram during impact with very little computing cost. However, developing a mathematical model with a reasonable level of accuracy is still a challenge. The simulation of the ball model impact with a flat surface achieved reasonable agreement with experimental results for both the single-element and the three-element models. The genetic algorithm (GA) method proved to be more efficient and convenient than directly solving the differential equations. A detailed multi-layer, multi-material Finite Element (FE) model has also been developed. The model has been experimentally validated and refined to a greater level of detail than has been previously possible. Dynamic explicit analysis was conducted using ABAQUS (ABAQUS Inc., USA). A universal Finite Element (FE) ball model has also been developed within the ABAQUS CAE environment. This model can be seen as a combination of an FE model template and a material parameter selection tool based on an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model. This approach allows for rapid model development while producing accurate results at different impact speeds. Two sets of real test data obtained from a five-layer cricket ball and a two-layer cricket ball at impact velocity of 25 m/s were used to examine the ANN model. The developed FE-ANN model and the corresponding training process represent an invaluable tool for facilitating design, analysis and structural optimization of cricket-related sport equipment. Furthermore, the application presented here can be extended to simulate any solid ball impact.<br>