An Experimental Study on Contact Area between Snowboard and Flat Slope

Abstract

To discuss the dynamics of a snowboard turn, it is necessary to consider a) a snowboarder's snowboard control, b) the shape and mechanical properties of the snowboard, c) the contact mechanism between snowboard and slope, and d) the shape and mechanical properties of the slope. However, until the present, there have been no reports taking these factors into consideration due to the mathematical difficulty. Especially, it is difficult to explain the contact mechanism between snowboard and slope. The present study attempts to estimate experimentally the contact area between snowboard and slope. First, some models of snowboard are machined precisely by using machining center. Second, the contact area between the snowboard and slope is measured by using a thin sensor sheet. The effects of the slope (mechanical property and inclination), the snowboarder (weight and snowboard control), and the snowboard (width and length) on the contact area are discussed. From the experimental results and discussions it is concluded that one can estimate experimentally the contact area.