Predict the Relationship Between Wood Baseball Bat Profile and Durability

Major League Baseball (MLB) currently has few restrictions on the bat profiles allowed for use during gameplay. Although current multi-piece failure (MPF) rates are at their lowest in years, there is still room for further improvement by regulating the bat profiles allowed in games. The influence of bat profile tapering was analyzed utilizing finite element models of various known profile geometries to determine the effect on bat durability. LS-DYNA simulations were processed for profiles over a range of maple wood densities that would be currently allowed by MLB regulations. This paper will describe the various modelling studies conducted to determine the factors that comprise a bat profile of good durability. The results of the modelling are compared to on-field data of bat failures during gameplay of known profiles used by MLB players. A profile scoring formula is proposed that is a combination of bat geometrical characteristics and bat wood density. This score is shown to be a good predictor of the relative durability of a given set of bat configurations.