Comparative Study of Ski Damping Technologies by Accelerance Maps

Abstract

The vibratory response of alpine skis plays a significant role in the overall skier’s experience. This response is more important than ever as skiers now demand light and approachable (i.e., soft) skis. To improve the vibratory response, many companies now offer technologies to damp the ski’s motion. Even if widely used, these technologies are still widely misunderstood. This paper presents a method based on accelerance maps to evaluate the vibratory response (i.e., bending and torsional modes up to 250 Hz) and the damping at all points on the ski forebody. A variety of commercial technologies are evaluated (i.e., tuned-mass damper, particle damper, constrained-layer and rod activated viscoelastic bushing) and compared to the more traditional effects brought by adjusting mass, bending/torsional stiffnesses and construction.