Investigation of the mechanical performances of material and structural configuration of telemark ski boots

Abstract

A design procedure for telemark ski boots is presented, characterized by an integrated approach by means of experimental and numerical analyses. Material properties are investigated adopting different experimental tests addressed to the characterization of the behaviour of the ski boot polymeric materials, with particular regard to elastic, viscous, temperature-dependent and degradation characteristics. Material constitutive models are provided taking into account the experimental achievement. Ski boots morphology is defined adopting solid model technique and is subsequently transposed in numerical models that allow the mechanical response of the boot structure to be defined. Specific boundary conditions are assumed to mimic the binding effects. The investigation allows for an accurate interpretation of global and local effects induced in the specific boot as a function of loading considered. The present procedure can provide a valid set of information of the mechanical response of the boot in direct relation with the real use, taking into account loading and the environmental conditions, and leading to the possibility of defining the reliability and durability properties of the product. The present work is mostly addressed to offer a preliminary report with regard to the procedure adopted for the characterization of the materials and the constitutive formulation to be assumed for the numerical model aimed at the accurate design of a specific region of the ski boot.

Effect of the visco-elastic properties of thermoplastic polymers on the flexural and rebound behaviours of ski boots for alpine skiing

“…Parisotto et al 11 presented a procedure for the design of telemark ski boots developed through experimental tests on materials that focused on their behaviour in terms of elasticity, viscosity, temperature dependence and degradation. Recently, Natali et al 12,13 published two articles that detailed the mechanical properties of Pebax, using mechanical and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) tests.…”

Evaluation of the mechanical behaviour of Telemark ski boots: Part II – structural analysis

“…The stiffness of the spring is assumed to be 11.0 N/mm, according to the experimental data at disposal. 12…”

“…The self-contact condition between surfaces of the bellow is taken into account defining a penalty contact strategy technique that assumes a standard Coulomb friction with a coefficient of 0.1. 12…”

“…In the recent past, a preliminary paper was published 12 on the research activity under description, which represents the first evidence of a novel approach that integrates experimental testing and numerical structural analysis, aiming at the interpretation of already established boot performance and providing a valid tool for design.…”

Effect of material elastic properties and surface roughness on grip performances of ski boot soles under wet and icy conditions

“…The exploitation of numerical simulations in the realization of sports equipment is widely acknowledged by the industries and it represents an unavoidable step for the design of optimized and high performance products, limiting the cost of physical experimentation and prototyping to few calibration and verification tests. Regarding ski boots a number of work has focused on the structural design and optimization (Corazza & Cobelli (2005); Natali et al (2014); Parisotto et al (2012)). However, to the best of authors' knowledge, no specific application of computational tools was use in the study and design of the grip performances of soles.…”