A thin net, only 4 mm thick, but can withstand 20 tons of pulling force. In the Yunding stadium group of the Zhangjiakou Competition Area of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games, a "black technology" makes people shine. During the race, a windproof net can prevent strong winds of more than ten meters per second, ensuring the safety of athletes and the smooth progress of the game. This technology has been unanimously recognized and highly praised by experts such as the International Snow Federation.
A net is built to ensure that the race is not affected by wind speeds
The Genting Arena Group undertakes competitions such as aerial skills and U-shaped skill venues. Due to the high jump height of athletes, air movements and athlete safety are greatly affected by the wind. Under the influence of strong winds, athletes' movements are easily deformed. High winds can also blow athletes away from their intended locations, making them more vulnerable to injury, as has happened in previous competitions. If the forecast wind speed exceeds the wind speed requirement of the race, the race will be postponed. Therefore, the FIA recommends that the wind speed on the track should be below 3.5 meters per second when racing.
Through the analysis of data from the meteorological stations near the two venues over the years, the staff found that in the same period of the Winter Olympic Games, the proportion of wind speeds above 3.5 meters per second was large, so it was necessary to build a windproof net next to the venue to ensure the smooth progress of the competition and the safety of athletes.
Professor Liu Qingkuan, director of the Wind Engineering Research Center of Shijiazhuang Railway University, has been engaged in professional wind resistance research for 20 years, mainly engaged in wind resistance research in bridges and civil engineering, and previously undertook the special research on wind resistance of Shougang Ski Jump. "Don't underestimate wind disasters, 85% of the economic losses from natural disasters in the world every year come from wind disasters and their secondary disasters," he said. Based on the team's rich experience in wind resistance research, combined with the terrain, track, climate and other related data of Genting Ski Park, Liu Qingkuan and his team members worked overtime, and finally determined the best internal structure of the windproof net through repeated computer simulation calculations and a large number of wind tunnel tests.
However, in the specific production, there is a problem: there is no similar product on the market. Finally, the research team found the manufacturer of the windproof mesh weaving machine, started from the transformation of the machine and equipment to optimize the weaving process, and finally used the 12-needle weaving technology to weave the finished product as required.
Snow white windproof net has high technology content
Visually, the white windbreak mesh blends in with the surrounding snow and ice environment. A seemingly ordinary windproof net, but there is a lot of technology inside.
"The force performance of the windproof mesh must first be tested." Liu Qingkuan said that the thickness of the high-density polyethylene material windproof mesh is only about 4 mm, the interior has a complex three-dimensional space structure, and the combination of holes can just meet the dual performance needs of windproof and light transmission, as well as the tensile performance needs under strong winds, "The windproof mesh structure is tight, the light transmittance is better, so that in the game will not give athletes a sense of visual oppression." ”
Chongli has plenty of sunlight and strong ultraviolet rays, and the windproof mesh must use UV-resistant materials, but this material affects the flame retardancy. In order to improve the performance of the windproof mesh, the research team added various functional materials to the silk thread raw materials to achieve the goals of ultraviolet resistance, flame retardancy and low temperature resistance. The pole is spray molded to ensure that long-term exposure does not change color. Through the electrical control system developed by the team, the team has realized the function of quickly and conveniently opening and retracting in the low-temperature wind and snow environment to meet the requirements of opening the windproof during the race and recovering the pass snow car between the races.
The integration and construction cycle of the windproof facility program developed by the team is only two months, and the windproof effect is good, and the probability of ensuring the smooth progress of the competition can be guaranteed at more than 99%. The technology has been unanimously recognized and highly praised by the International Snow Federation and the International Olympic Committee. During the Winter Olympics, 9 snow-white poles and 8 flattened snow-white windproof nets, with bright Winter Olympic emblems, will become a beautiful scenery of the Genting venues.
Ic photo courtesy of image
For more information, stay tuned to the Winter Olympics.
Source Client The Winter Olympics | Reporter Li Ruyi
Editor: Han Ye
Process Editor Tai Shaofeng