Aeroelasticity and Aerodynamics of Badminton Shuttle

About the Project

The flight of a badminton shuttle is governed by a complex interaction between aerodynamic forces and the structural flexibility of the badminton shuttle. In professional badminton matches, the shuttles can reach speeds of 400 – 430 km/h. The fastest badminton smash record is 565 km/h, set by Satwiksairaj Rankireddy (India) on April 14, 2023. The previous record of 493 km/h was held by Malaysian player Tan Boon Heong.

Most models treat the shuttle as a rigid body or use empirical drag coefficients, ignoring the coupled effects of feather deformation and rotational dynamics. Unlike rigid projectiles, the feathers or synthetic skirt of a shuttle are flexible, porous, and deform under air loads, leading to aeroelastic phenomena that influence stability, drag, and trajectory. Despite badminton being a widely played sport, scientific understanding of shuttle aeroelasticity remains limited. In professional play, the shuttles are moving very fast right after impact. Thus, the understanding of aeroelastic response of the skirt is critical in stabilising the flight. At these speeds, even small deformations can create measurable differences in trajectory, drag and spin.

Understanding the aeroelastic behaviour of shuttles is critical not only for improving shuttle design but also for applications such as high-precision simulation of shuttle flight, optimization of shuttle materials, and the development of performance-enhancing equipment.

This research aims to develop a comprehensive theoretical and computational framework to analyse the interplay between aerodynamic forces and structural flexibility, providing predictive insight into shuttle behaviour under various striking and environmental conditions.

Objectives for this project

The main goal of this project is to characterize and model the aeroelastic behaviour of badminton shuttles. Specifically, the research aims to:

• (a) develop mathematical and computational models capturing the coupled dynamics of airflow and shuttle deformation
• (b) quantify the influence of structural properties, such as feather stiffness, skirt geometry, and mass distribution, on flight stability
• (c) explore strategies for optimizing shuttle design for consistency, accuracy, and performance.

Eligibility

Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2.1 honours degree or a master’s (or international equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering related discipline.

Funding

Excellent candidates will be nominated for competence-based faculty funding. The funding covers tuition fees and provides a tax-free stipend based on the UKRI rate (£20,780 for 2025/26). We expect the stipend to increase each year. The start date is October 2026.

For more information, and funding deadlines please visit our FSE Funding home page. Your supervisor will be able to advise you on specific scholarships, studentships and awards you may be eligible for.

Self-funded students are welcome to apply.

We recommend that you apply early as the advert may be removed before the deadline.

Before you apply

We strongly recommend that you contact the supervisors for this project before you apply. Please include details of your current level of study, academic background and any relevant experience and include a paragraph about your motivation to study this PhD project.

How to apply

Apply online through our website: https://uom.link/pgr-apply-2425

When applying, you’ll need to specify the full name of this project, the name of your supervisor, if you already having funding or if you wish to be considered for available funding through the university, details of your previous study, and names and contact details of two referees.

Your application will not be processed without all of the required documents submitted at the time of application, and we cannot accept responsibility for late or missed deadlines. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

After you have applied you will be asked to upload the following supporting documents:

• Final Transcript and certificates of all awarded university level qualifications
• Interim Transcript of any university level qualifications in progress
• CV
• Supporting statement: A one or two page statement outlining your motivation to pursue postgraduate research and why you want to undertake postgraduate research at Manchester, any relevant research or work experience, the key findings of your previous research experience, and techniques and skills you’ve developed. (This is mandatory for all applicants and the application will be put on hold without it).
• Contact details for two referees (please make sure that the contact email you provide is an official university/work email address as we may need to verify the reference)
• English Language certificate (if applicable)

If you have any questions about making an application, please contact our admissions team by emailing FSE.doctoralacademy.admissions@manchester.ac.uk.