JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #66 - July/August 2011 - 13

Innovation ahead

have proven reliable over many decades of ski sports were analyzed using complex calculation methods drawn from motorsport. The result: construction specifications for a full-carbon ski that guarantees perfect handling properties. After extensive tests, scientific experts from the German Ski Association confirmed the high quality of the Audi Carbon Ski concept. A ski is a technically sophisticated piece of sports equipment, but it is also a highly aesthetic object that is optimized for top performance. The project at Audi Concept Design Munich – in the heart of the Schwabing urban district– was based on these considerations. The team of young, international designers transferred the Audi design gene from the brand’s cars to the ski. “Carbon and aluminium are central elements in Audi design – these exclusive materials underscore the outstanding quality of our cars,” Egger said.

motorsports for especially sensitive components that need to withstand the highest stress loads yet must at the same time be light in weight,” says Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, Head of Audi Motorsport. In the racing cars for the German Touring Car Masters (DTM) and the Le Mans sports cars such as the new R18, the driver’s cockpit – the socalled monocoque – is made from high-strength carbon fibre. “When creating this possibly lifesaving carbon component, we use the same calculation methods as for the concept development of the Audi Carbon Ski concept,” Ullrich said. The calculations allow the engineers to achieve optimal stiffness with minimal torsion. The layers of carbon are hardened under pressure in an artificial vacuum for the fabrication of this ski.

“The serial-production ski was able to borrow from the concept study, and it features outstanding technical properties. At the same time, its minimalist design highlights the technical nature of the carbon material.” In January 2011, as part of the most famous downhill race in the world – the Hahnenkamm race in

Kitzbühel – and in February 2011 at the World Ski Championships in GarmischPartenkirchen, customers were able to test the first prototypes of the Audi Carbon Ski. In addition to extensive tests by specialists from Head and the German Ski Association, these results will help perfect the ski.

More information
- Materials: high-strength carbon fibre aluminium titanium - A mere 960 grams per ski - 200 grams lighter than comparable models

The Audi Carbon Ski concept
When developing the Audi Carbon Ski concept (2008/2009), Audi took advantage of over 20 years of partnership with the German Ski Association and its own considerable experience in motorsports. Parameters that

No66 July - August 2011 / jec composites magazine

Behaviour

its minimalist design highlights the technical nature of the carbon material.
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“The design of the ski also intentionally dispenses with unnecessary lines and concentrates fully on the material.” “Thanks to its ideal combination of strength and light weight, carbon is used in

The influence of carbon on the handling properties of the ski is revolutionary: the ski flexes on the mogul slopes to achieve optimal grip on uneven surfaces. On icy patches, on the other hand, the ski must not twist, so that the steel edges can maintain their grip on the snow along their entire length. Thus, the ski never loses contact with the ground. The light weight of carbon also plays a critical role for skiing curves. The weight per ski is a mere 960 grams.

More information: www.audi.com

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JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #66 - July/August 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #66 - July/August 2011