Segmented Snowboard Core with Elastomeric Damping Layers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing snowboards struggle to balance grip properties and comfort, particularly in transverse flexion, due to limitations in material stiffness and vibration damping.
Innovation Solution
A snowboard structure featuring a core segmented by an elongated element with a central layer of high transverse Young's modulus material and lateral elastomeric layers, enhancing bending, torsional stiffness, and crushing strength while reducing vibration through dynamic damping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If the core is made of light material with low mass, then the board weight is reduced, but the transverse stiffness and grip properties deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The core is segmented by an elongated element that divides it into two parts, creating a composite structure with a central layer of high transverse Young's modulus material and lateral elastomeric layers. This segmentation allows the light-weight core to achieve enhanced transverse stiffness through the rigid central layer while maintaining low overall mass.
Solution Approach 2:
The elongated element is constructed as a composite structure combining a central layer made of material with high transverse Young's modulus (greater than the core material) and lateral layers made of elastomeric material. This composite approach enables the core to simultaneously achieve light weight and high transverse stiffness, resolving the contradiction between weight reduction and stiffness enhancement.
2Strength
If the core stiffness is increased to improve grip, then the board becomes less comfortable due to increased vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The elongated element introduces local quality variations within the core by positioning a rigid central layer (for stiffness and grip) between elastomeric lateral layers (for vibration damping). This local differentiation allows different regions of the core to perform different functions: the central layer provides grip while the elastomeric layers provide comfort by reducing vibrations.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric lateral layers act as intermediary elements between the rigid central layer and the core, serving as vibration dampers that reduce the transmission of vibrations to the user. This intermediary structure allows the board to maintain high grip properties through the rigid central layer while improving comfort through the vibration-absorbing elastomeric layers.
3Device complexity
If the core is made monolithic to simplify structure, then the manufacturing is easier, but the transverse bending stiffness and torsion stiffness are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The core is segmented by the elongated element into two distinct parts, with the elongated element itself composed of multiple layers (central rigid layer and lateral elastomeric layers). This segmentation transforms the simple monolithic core into a structured composite that achieves superior transverse bending stiffness and torsion stiffness while remaining manufacturable through established techniques.
4Strength
If the central layer material has very high transverse Young's modulus to maximize stiffness, then the grip is improved, but the weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The high transverse Young's modulus material is used locally only in the central layer of the elongated element, rather than throughout the entire core. This localized use of rigid material provides the necessary transverse stiffness for grip while minimizing the overall weight increase, as the majority of the core volume can remain composed of lighter materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The elongated element is constructed as a composite structure combining a small-volume central layer of high transverse Young's modulus material with larger-volume elastomeric lateral layers. This composite design achieves high transverse stiffness through the rigid central layer while keeping the overall weight low by using lightweight elastomeric materials for the bulk of the structure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The segmented core design improves grip and comfort by shifting resonance frequencies, reducing vibration, and enhancing the board's ability to maintain its trajectory, making it more anchored and less prone to deformation.
Implementation Method 1
the assembly obtained by the two parts of the core and the slender element behaves like an assembly formed of a main mass with which a dynamic beater is associated... the element slender constitutes the stiffness and/or damping of the beater... reduction in the level of amplitude at the resonance frequencies
Implementation Method 2
a central layer made of a material having a transverse Young's modulus greater than the transverse Young's modulus of the material making up the core
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
Snowshoe (1), having a structure including: • a lower assembly formed (2) of a sliding base bordered (7) by edges (8) and one or more layers (9) of lower reinforcement; • an upper assembly (3) formed of one or more layers of upper reinforcement (12) and an upper layer of protection and decoration (11); • a core (4) interposed between the lower assembly (9) and the upper assembly (3);• a long element (20) extending in the longitudinal direction of the board, separating the core into two parts (21, 22), and coming into contact with the upper (3) and lower (2) assemblies, characterized in that the long element (20) is formed by the assembly of at least three layers extending vertically between the upper (3) and lower (2) assemblies, the three layers comprising a central layer (30) made of a material having a transverse Young's modulus greater than the transverse Young's modulus of the material composing the core (21, 22), and two lateral layers (31, 32) coming into contact with the central layer (30), and made of an elastomeric material.;