"Yan Wengang's bronze medal is not easy!" On the day of the recording of the program, just in time for the day after China's Yan Wengang won the bronze medal in the men's steel frame snowmobile competition of the Beijing Winter Olympics with a total score of 4 minutes 01.77 seconds, Li Bo appeared excited, and few people knew that behind the historic breakthrough of the steel frame snowmobile project, there was also his share of his contribution.
Who is Li Bo? He is the director of the Wind Tunnel Laboratory at the School of Civil and Architectural Engineering, Beijing Jiaotong University. Since 2018, he and his team have embarked on a journey of wind tunnel technology research in the mainland ice and snow project, developed the first set of wind tunnel auxiliary training system for ice and snow projects in the mainland, and assisted in the construction of the first sports professional wind tunnel in the mainland.
"In order to ensure the safety of athletes, after each set of devices is installed, I personally go up to the first trial." Li Bo said that because the wind speed of the steel frame snowmobile wind tunnel test needs to reach 126km/h, the risk factor is high, and at the same time, the sports that need to be tested in the wind tunnel are also the most. Wind tunnel testing, that is, the application of attitude resistance optimization technology, to optimize the sliding attitude of athletes of steel-frame snow teams. In order to ensure the safety of athletes, after each set of devices was installed, Li Bo personally tried it, "Only if I confirm that there is no problem myself, can we let our athletes go up to the test." ”
Li Bo at work. Courtesy of respondents
In Li Bo's view, from December 28, 2018 to January 12, 2022, a total of 5 rounds of wind tunnel tests, from the beginning of the cooperation, to Yan Wengang won the bronze medal of the Winter Olympics, not only the wind tunnel technology applied to the ice and snow sports from "0" to "1", but also achieved a leap from "following" to "leading".
In fact, it is not only the steel frame snowmobile project, Gao Tingyu, who won the gold medal in the men's 500 meters of speed skating at the Beijing Winter Olympics on February 12 and broke the Olympic record, Xu Mengtao, who won the free ski aerial skills championship with a score of 108.61 points on February 14, and Xu Mingfu, who successfully completed the alpine downhill project and received a gift from Mr. Bach, chairman of the International Olympic Organizing Committee... Behind the historical breakthroughs created by our Winter Olympic athletes in different arenas, they are inseparable from such a team that understands the wind, analyzes the wind, and uses the wind.
"At the speed skating hall of the Erqi base, we worked with the coaching team to develop a fan boost system, using the fan to generate a downwind environment, helping Gao Tingyu improve the speed of skating, through this speed training to let athletes form muscle memory and improve performance..."
"In March 2021, we began to use model wind tunnel tests to evaluate the wind speed and direction of the main tracks in each beijing winter Olympics based on historical meteorological data..."
"Windproof and windproof are the key to the construction of the National Alpine Ski Center, and the alpine downhill project is also known as the diamond in the crown of the ice and snow project, and the competition is extremely difficult. In 2018, we determined the design wind speeds of different areas through wind tunnel tests, which not only ensured safety but also saved engineering costs; in 2019, we completed the assessment of the wind environment in the departure area of the downhill track and set up the windshield wall of the ski track; in 2021, we completed the temporary stand wind resistance test and built a time-of-race monitoring system to provide protection for on-site viewing and media broadcasting..."
Li Bo is very familiar with the process of technical research, he told us about the wind tunnel technology to provide all-round scientific and technological assistance for this competition event at the doorstep, and he is also proud that the wind tunnel technology can be applied to competitive sports.
Today is the closing day of the Beijing Winter Olympics. Think back to February 4, the opening ceremony that dedicated the romance of Chinese to the world. The 96 "little snowflakes" that mark the delegations of the participating countries are connected to each other and become a "big snowflake". Snowflakes rise above the nest to complete the torch lighting ceremony.
What you may not know is that this "big snowflake" with a diameter of 14.89 meters can rise steadily and slowly in the cold wind of Beijing, and it is Li Bo's team that provided technical support for the ignition ceremony. "We are incredibly proud to be able to use our expertise to ensure that the 'big snowflakes' rise, spin and light up steadily." Li Bo said.
From running the competition, participating in the competition to watching the competition, Li Bo was not idle throughout the whole process. "We use wind tunnel technology to continuously innovate to achieve the goal of running a wonderful competition and participating in a brilliant competition." Li Bo said proudly.