Physics Of Snowboarding Research Paper

Physics of Snowboarding
The snowboard is made of multiple layers and comes in several shapes (flexible to stiff) that snowboarders use according to their style. The board shown in Figure 4 is a Twin Tip board, meaning that it can be used in either direction, this the is preferred board for our project because it accommodates left handed and right handed people.

The top surface of a snowboard is slightly concave; the radius of the circle (as seen in Figure 5) making up this concavity is proportional to the degree range of turn a snowboard can make.
The board is made out of bendable material so that is can flex along its length and experience torsion along its width as seen in Figure 6.

The figure shows the multiple types of board profiles on

the market, Reverse Camber is the preferred profile for our project because of its high stability and high sensitivity to change in center of mass.

Figure 4 Purchasing a Snowboard (2015) Figure 5 Purchasing a Snowboard (2015)

Figure 6 Physics of Snowboarding (2009)

Figure 7 Types of Snowboards (2016)

Relationship between Mass of Board and Inclination of Hill

Figure 8 New Theory of Lift Mechanics for Snowboarding 2006
Figure 8a: Model of a snowboard with labelled dimensions
Figure 8b: Skier/Snowboarder at terminal velocity (no acceleration and no inertial force)

Na is the pore air pressure
Ns is the reaction force of ice crystals in snow
Ff (= nNs ) is friction on the board due to snow (n is coefficient of friction due to snow and FD is the drag force due to wind
FL is the lift force (this is negligible taking into account Ns and Na)

All forces and moments will equal 0:

Here Na and Ns can be substituted by:

Na refers to the integral of the integral of difference between the air pressure at the edge of the contact surface and the pore pressure with respect to displacement in the x direction all with respect to the displacement in the y direction.

Ns refers to the integral of the local solid phase pressure times the width of the board with respect to the displacement in the x direction.
Xc is the x coordinate of the center of mass
Xa is the x coordinate of the center of Na
Xs is the x coordinate of the center of Ns
lc is the vertical distance from the center of mass and the ski

surface
αh is the angle of incline of the hill

From this equation we can determine the required mass of the board and person in order to achieve a terminal force Ff ( Ff =mgsinαh) at a desired hill incline .
This equation can also determine the ideal location of the center of mass from the edge of the board and will be useful in the construction and predicting the results of testing of an apparatus on different inclines.

Types of Turns:
Skidded Turns
The tail of the snowboard is on a turning path different from the tip, thus creating resistance and snow spray. Beginners use this technique to slow down.

Carved Turns
Tip and Tail follow the same turning path, side of the board (very thin) point of contact with the snow, used by experienced individuals for fast turns.

Dynamic Turns
Center of Mass follows a largely different turning path then the board. For extremely advanced individuals. Can result in injury.

Basic Turn Procedures
1) User's body turns in desired direction of motion (results in torsion and moment)
2) User leans on side of board to complete the turn and to control speed (user must ensure centripetal force must balances gravity)
3) User returns to straight position