The various competitions in the Zhangjiakou Division of the Beijing Winter Olympics are in full swing. Liu Qingkuan and his colleagues are extremely busy, as a member of the Genting Stadium Group Windproof Net, every day before the game, they have to check whether the hanging point of the windproof net is strong and whether the snow surface of the net has changed. The team has also made a variety of emergency plans, prepared parts, and can be maintained at any time. At the Genting Ski Resort Group, 9 snow white poles and 8 flat snow white windproof nets were set up on the side of the track of aerial skills and U-shaped track skills, and their wind blocking effect met expectations and won the praise of athletes. The windproof net is equipped with a bright Winter Olympic emblem, which has also become a beautiful scenery in the Zhangjiakou competition area.
The Genting Stadium Group undertakes most of the freestyle skiing and snowboarding competitions, of which aerial skills and U-shaped track skills are two events, due to the high starting 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 been the case in previous Winter Olympics and other competitions. Therefore, the FIS recommends that the wind speed of the track should be controlled to less than 3.5 meters per second during the race.
The windproof net developed by professor Liu Qingkuan, director of the Wind Engineering Research Center of Shijiazhuang Railway University, solves this problem. Liu Qingkuan said that the thickness is only about 4 mm of high-density polyethylene material windproof mesh, the interior has a complex three-dimensional space structure, 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, and the windproof mesh can withstand 1.2 tons of pressure per meter width. At the same time, the windproof net also has the characteristics of anti-ultraviolet rays, flame retardant and low temperature resistance. During the race, a windproof net can protect against winds that exceed ten meters per second and ensure the safety of athletes.
The team came to the Genting Stadium Group in Zhangjiakou Division on January 8 to start the preliminary work. Liu Qingkuan introduced that in the early stage, it is necessary to sort out the snow surface, and after opening the net, the seam cannot be left under the net, and then test whether the opening and closing is smooth at low temperatures, and at the same time collect basic data to evaluate the windproof effect. At the end of January, Chongli encountered strong winds, with an average wind speed of more than 9 meters per second, but under the obstruction of the windproof net, the wind speed of the venue could be reduced to less than 3.5 meters per second, which could still meet the requirements of the competition.
This technology not only broke the monopoly of foreign countries, but also received unanimous recognition and high praise from experts such as the International Snow Federation. During the official competition stage, athletes also gave high praise to the windproof net. Liu Qingkuan introduced that from February 4 to the present, there is no strong wind passing through the Genting stadium group, and the wind speed in the venue after the wind block is almost zero, which is an ideal state for athletes, "their mentality can be completely relaxed, do not consider the impact of the wind, only consider how to do the action well." After the U-shaped track skills competition, men's snowboarder and three-time Winter Olympic champion Sean White said, "The windbreak net is amazing and protects us from the wind. Freestyle skier Winter Venecki also said, "In many competition venues, athletes have to fight against the wind, but here, the design of the windproof net ensures our safety and allows us to play more skillfully in the air." Team USA, the champion of the freestyle ski aerial skill mix, said, "It's perfect to have a windbreak on the sidelines, we really need it, and such a windbreaking net helps us to focus more on the game and also provide a higher level of competition, so we can perform so well and be successful in such a great arena."
The wind speed was small in the past few days and the weather was stable, but meteorological data from previous years showed that from February 4 to 20, Chongli would have a windy weather. Liu Qingkuan said, "In the next few days in windy weather, I have the confidence to use the wind net to block the wind during the game." ”
Source Beijing Daily Client | Reporter Li Ruyi Feng Jiawei Pan Zhiwang
Editor: Wang Haiping
Process Editor Tai Shaofeng