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present work is concerned with the design of an innovative ski-boot.
In order to optimize ergonomics and biomechanical behavior of the
ski-boot it is important to take into account the orientation of the
leg with respect to the ground. The SGS system (Stance Geometry System)
developed in this work allows the skier to adjust for posture in the
frontal plane by rotating the sole of the boot about the antero-posterior
axis (ski-boot is then locked in the desired position before skiing).
A simplified model of the effect of ski-boot deformation on skiing
behavior is used to evaluate the minimal stiffness the system must
have. An experimental analysis on the ski slopes was carried out to
provide ski-boot deformations and loading data in different skiing
conditions, to be used in numerical simulations. Finite Elements Method
(FEM) simulations were performed for optimal design of the joint between
ski-boot and sole. The active loads and local ski-boot deformations
during small- and large-radius turns were experimentally determined
and used to validate a FEM model of the ski-boot. The model was used
to optimize the design for maximum stiffness and to demonstrate the
efficacy of virtual design supported by proper experimental data.
Mean loads up to 164% body weight were measured on the outer ski during
turning. The new SGS design system allows the adjustment of lateral
stance before using the ski-boot, optimizing the ski-boot stiffness
through FEM analysis. Innovative aspects of this work included not
only the stance geometry system ski-boot but also the setup of a virtual
design environment that was validated by experimental evidence. An
entire dataset describing loads during skiing has been obtained. The
optimized SGS ski-boot increases intrinsic knee stability due to proper
adjustment of lateral stance, guaranteeing appropriate stiffness of
the ski-boot system.
KEY
WORDS: Stance geometry system, stiffness, virtual design environment,
FEM analysis, skiing performance.
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