Ski boot flex testing
Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 7:24 am
I know this is a bit on the side, but does anyone know of any testing/measuring of boot flex having been done? Is there an industry standard? How does the flex rating of different brands compare?
A setup similar to Endres for testing ski flex should be easy enough to build.
Clamp down the boot. (Using a binding mounted to a fixed object might do the trick)
Insert rod/hinged arm of a fixed length into boot. (1 meter might be ideal)
Using a weight or motor and a Newtonmeter, measure deflection of boot in Nm/mm or Nm/degree of deflection.
Load the boot gradually until it becomes significantly harder to flex it (Stiffness increasing rapidly/boot approaching critical failure)
Repeat for sideways flex.
Compare.
The challenge goes out to the resident engineers.
A setup similar to Endres for testing ski flex should be easy enough to build.
Clamp down the boot. (Using a binding mounted to a fixed object might do the trick)
Insert rod/hinged arm of a fixed length into boot. (1 meter might be ideal)
Using a weight or motor and a Newtonmeter, measure deflection of boot in Nm/mm or Nm/degree of deflection.
Load the boot gradually until it becomes significantly harder to flex it (Stiffness increasing rapidly/boot approaching critical failure)
Repeat for sideways flex.
Compare.
The challenge goes out to the resident engineers.