Dynamic Simulation of Cross-country Skiing

Abstract

The application of simulation techniques in different sport disciplines have become an important asset to coaches, teams and public in general due to the detailed information that different types of simulation techniques can provide. This dissertation work focuses on the study of cross–country skiing from a point of view different than those usual research fields. It studies cross–country skiing from the point of view of the mechanical engineering by applying the concepts of kinematics and dynamics to understand better the biomechanics involved in the skier’s movement. There are three main aspects that this dissertation addresses. Firstly, how to simulate the movement of a skier by applying simplified simulation models. Secondly, how to compare the evolution of the skier’s technique irrespectively from the variability of the body movement. Finally, how to incorporate to the analysis toolbox other measurement devices such as inertial measurement units which allow for the acquisition of data in a more vast range of conditions such as the study of the effect of the ski pole on the skier’s propulsion force. Experiments to validate each one of these three main aspects presented in this dissertation work were carried out in multiple locations with the support of different teams with expertise in fields of sport physiology, physiotherapy and human performance quantification. The main findings showed that the techniques applied and the methodology employed to address the tasks were sound and the numerical results obtained were closed to results acquired in the set of experiments.