Analysis of Optimal Operating Frequencies For Skiing Apparatuses via Material Layer Optimization

The use of skis has extended through thousands of years with skis gradually evolving to shorter, more adaptable designs. However, ski chatter occurs within skis primarily designed for novices and powdery conditions. Ski chatter represents the propagation of cyclical deflection in the tip and tail from vibrations initiated by snow roughness. The goal of this project was to mimic and determine deflections of skis from frequencies experienced on ski slopes and create a design that increased the dampening of the ski to minimize such chatter. To minimize ski chatter and collect data, ISO standard 6267 for ski oscillation was recreated. Initial data of three baseline ski models was recorded via the Crochet Lab at Union College supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant NSF-DBI-1827495. With the help of Matt Hilbert (co-founder of Deviation Skis, Union College class of ’11), three baseline skis were provided. Ski oscillation data was compared with a SolidWorks FEA model created to replicate trends of one baseline ski via simulation. Once a relation between the two datasets was found, layers were altered within the ski model with respect to their elastic moduli [Pa] and modal damping ratios [%]. To determine whether oscillations were dampened, ISO standard 6267 was recreated with the modified SolidWorks model via a dynamic study to compare oscillations with baseline data. Natural frequencies were also compared to see which ski required a higher frequency to initiate deflection vertically from modes 6 and above. This analysis helps provide insight into publicly accessible ski material layer optimization pertaining to ski chatter dampening.