SEDL / STP / STP860-EB / STP46637S

A Device for Measuring the Influence of Ski Boot Design on the Pressure Distribution in the Lower Leg

Schattner, Ruprecht
Physicist, department head, and staff member, Technischer Überwachungs-Verein Bayern e. V., Munich,

Asang, Ernst


Hauser, Wolfhart
Physicist, department head, and staff member, Technischer Überwachungs-Verein Bayern e. V., Munich,

Velho, Francisco
Physicist, department head, and staff member, Technischer Überwachungs-Verein Bayern e. V., Munich,

Pages: 7    Published: Jan 1985

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Abstract

The length of the shaft of a ski boot drastically influences the locations and values of the maxima of force exerted by the boot on the leg. A device has been developed to measure the actual two-dimensional pressure distribution on the lower leg. It consists of an array of a maximum of 192 sensors in the form of a silicon rubber mat coated with 24 horizontal and up to 8 vertical conductive paths. The paths are linked by a multiplexer to a microprocessor that transforms the data into both digital information for on-line data analysis or output on a digital printer and a TV signal for instant information or storage on a video tape. The time resolution is up to 25 measuring cycles per second. The TV signal may be used for telemetric studies, so that dynamic pressure distributions in real downhill skiing can be measured.