Aerodynamics and Biomechanical Optimization of the Jump Phase in Skiing, Through a Simulation-Based Predictive Model

In this paper, an aerodynamic and biomechanical evaluation of the jump phase in downhill race is presented. The aerodynamic analysis has been conducted in order to develop a predictive model of the lift and drag forces during the different jump phase. The jump time is very short and performed with high speed. The Biomechanical Analysis has been conducted using Santos Digital Human Model to simulate 5 selected postures measured with a motion capture system, in order to verify the reliability of the simulation software. These simulated postures generated data about frontal surfaces that have been used in order to validate the predictive models. The evaluation of the distribution of the joints torques produced on the athletes in the different posture, in response to the dynamical model of the jump in skiing, has been computed. Results demonstrate that the simulation model is effective and the simulated posture are coherent with the real motion measurement. There is a good agreement in Torques results for both the Skiers, in the different postures, with some exceptions. This is probably due to the fact that, even if the analyzed postures are the same for both the athletes, there is a natural variability in the executions, like the motion capture analysis demonstrates.