Development of an FE model of a cricket ball

Studies of impact dynamics of cricket balls have the potential of significantly improving the development of cricket equipment and also contribute to improving the player's safety and performance. This work presents the development of a detailed multi-layer FE model for the structural analysis of cricket balls. The model was derived using experimental data obtained from tests developed for this purpose, including drop tests and high speed impact tests. The multi-layer, multi-material FE model was constructed using ABAQUS. Calibration of the model involves a multidisciplinary optimization technique. Comparison shows good agreement between experimental results and predictions from the refined model.