James Cain 9/12/14

 In 1974, NCAA implemented the use of metal bats to save money ◦ The number of homeruns per game drastically increased ◦ Higher rate of injury to pitchers attributed to higher ball exit velocity off of an metal bat  Due to higher rate of injuries, NCAA instituted stricter ball-bat coefficient of restitution (BBCOR) to make metal bat performance similar to that of a wood bat  Goal of project is to compare bat performance of wood, metal, and metal BBCOR baseball bats

 Model a baseball and baseball bats in Abaqus/CAE  Perform a dynamic analysis on the bat-ball interaction in Abaqus/Explicit  Modify models with different physical properties such as material, mass, and size  Compare the analytical results of the bat performance to experimental data

 Create three-dimensional models of a baseball and wood and aluminum baseball bats using Abaqus/CAE  Create a finite element model (FEM) and analyze the dynamic nature of the bat-ball interaction using Abaqus/Explicit ◦ Apply appropriate boundary conditions, contact, and constraints  Run and repeat analysis with both coarser and finer meshes to determine the adequacy of the mesh  Re-run analysis using different bat physical properties

 Become proficient in the use of FEA, specifically in Abaqus/CAE and Abaqus/Explicit  Gain a better understanding of the bat-ball interaction and bat performance of different material bats

 Milestones ◦ Research experimental data on wood and metal baseball bat performances ◦ Research material properties for wood and metal bats and baseballs ◦ Create FEM to show contact between baseball and bat ◦ Run FEM to determine effects of different variables and process results  Deadlines ◦ Tentative Project Proposal Draft September 5, 2014 ◦ Project ProposalSeptember 12, 2014 ◦ First Progress Report September 26, 2014 ◦ Second Progress Report October 17, 2014 ◦ Final Draft November 7, 2014 ◦ Preliminary Final Report November 28, 2014 ◦ Final Report December 12, 2014