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Aerodynamics of Ski Jumping

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Book cover The Engineering Approach to Winter Sports

Abstract

Ski jumping is an exciting and primarily competitive sport involving both ballistic and aerodynamic factors. The ballistic factors are release velocity and release position of a ski jumper from the take-off table, whereas aerodynamic factors include the gliding properties of the jumper/ski system (velocity, suit design, surface area, posture of the jumper/ski system, resisting and lifting forces). Both ballistic and aerodynamic factors place special demands on the jumper so that he/she can, for example, optimally maximize the vertical lift and minimize the drag forces. Ski jumping has attracted spectators 200 years and it has undergone several notable steps in the development of performance technique and equipment. This chapter does not try to provide any complete examination of prior work in this area, but some well-known studies and surveys/reviews will be given.

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Acknowledgements

The author acknowledges Mr. Juha Kivekäs (Arteform Ltd.) for his expertise in aerodynamics and the computer simulations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology of Physical Activity, University of Jyväskylä, 35, Jyväskylä, 40014, Finland

    Mikko Virmavirta

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  1. Mikko Virmavirta
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Correspondence to Mikko Virmavirta .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy

    Francesco Braghin

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy

    Federico Cheli

  3. AC Milan SpA, Milano, Italy

    Stefano Maldifassi

  4. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy

    Stefano Melzi

  5. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy

    Edoardo Sabbioni

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Virmavirta, M. (2016). Aerodynamics of Ski Jumping. In: Braghin, F., Cheli, F., Maldifassi, S., Melzi, S., Sabbioni, E. (eds) The Engineering Approach to Winter Sports. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3020-3_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3020-3_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-3019-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-3020-3

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

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