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G3 Genuine Guide Gear Inc. (G3), a specialized manufacturer of backcountry ski and safety equipment designed for guides and avalanche professionals, used ALGOR FEA software to analyze the TARGA Ascent telemark ski binding. ALGOR linear static stress analysis results helped G3 to verify their product design's safety, effectiveness and reliability. |
Applying FEA to Backcountry Ski Equipment
Founded in 1995, G3 has earned a reputation for developing and manufacturing innovative, dependable guide gear for the backcountry ski market. "Our product innovations are inspired by combining many years of skiing experience and product design," said Shute.
G3 uses SolidWorks for computer-aided design (CAD) in conjunction with ALGOR analysis. "I open the native SolidWorks files in ALGOR, and find that my data translates fine," said Shute. "We then perform ALGOR linear static stress analysis for the structural components of every product." (Read a previous application story about how G3 analyzed its AviMATRIX Shovel.)
Shute explained his role, "I bring backcountry skiing products to market, from initial conception to final manufactured products and all steps in between. Currently, I’m a project manager, but I’m still heavily involved in the technical aspects of design including FEA, materials and testing. I also manage G3’s intellectual property including patent research and applications, working with lawyers."
Shute's experience in FEA included college-level instruction. "I took a course at the University of Alberta on FEA, but it was a more fundamental course on understanding how the finite element method works rather than focusing on applications of FEA. I’ve used ANSYS and COSMOSWorks; however, I find ALGOR much more intuitive than ANSYS and I feel like I have much more of an understanding of each step of the analysis with ALGOR over COSMOSWorks."
Additionally, Shute has taken advantage of ALGOR's education and training materials and services. "While working at G3, I attended an ALGOR classroom training seminar, which further helped my understanding of FEA software. But, mostly, I've learned what I need to know in order to get my job done by working with the keystroke-specific tutorials, online documentation and the occasional call to ALGOR technical support."
Shute described the benefits of using ALGOR FEA, "For me, it's the ability to control my meshing with lots of options for fine tuning and refinement of critical areas. We definitely save money and time by being a step ahead when we are prototyping concepts. ALGOR allows us to have a general sense of the relative strengths of parts in an assembly so we can do some initial optimization of part design before committing to prototyping. We often also know where parts are going to start breaking in tests like fatigue and can focus on those areas when inspecting tests. For the cost of the software, we receive great value."
Analyzing the TARGA Ascent Telemark Ski Binding
Shute used ALGOR linear static stress software to analyze all components (30 parts) of G3's TARGA Ascent telemark ski binding. "Unlike alpine skiing equipment, the skis used for telemarking – or free-heel skiing – have a binding that only connects the boot to the ski at the toes, much like in cross-country skiing," explained Shute. "However, cross-country products are lighter and used mainly for flatter terrain with little or no downhill performance. Telemark bindings are more heavy-duty to withstand the increased forces encountered in high-speed descents. They allow skiers to execute fluid turns and provide good performance for both touring and downhill skiing."
ALGOR linear static stress analyses were performed for all components of the G3 TARGA Ascent telemark ski binding. Shown here are callouts to finite element models of selected parts with contours of von Mises stress results displayed. |
The TARGA Ascent provides a pole-activated free pivot system, easily switching the binding from tour to ski mode. In tour mode, the Ascent toe plate pivots unrestricted on a stainless steel axle, eliminating the burden of boot flex resistance for a natural feel and efficient stride. A flick of the switch easily converts the Ascent into ski mode where a stainless steel sliding retainer moves into place above a forged stainless steel retention bar, allowing outstanding downhill control.
"TARGA telemark bindings are the state of the art in telemark bindings," said Shute. "Our design goals for the Ascent were that it must be strong, light, reliable and functional."
To help achieve those goals, Shute applied ALGOR FEA. "We used ALGOR extensively to optimize the weight and strength of many structural plastic and metal components as well as elastomers for damping and spring force. This included the solving of many interesting FEA problems, like flexible tabs calculations and spring force estimates."
The following table presents Shute's comments about his ALGOR linear static stress analyses of several key components of the TARGA Ascent telemark ski binding:
| Part | Function | Comments |
| 1) Heel Insert and Carrier | Supports the load of the skier's heel in both ski mode and tour mode. | "The part had to be strong in two positions, and ALGOR helped us identify the critical regions in which we would have to minimize stress concentrations." |
| 2) Lower Bearing | Acts as a bearing surface for the latch mechanism. | "We determined what contact area was required to ensure for adequate support without large deflections." |
| 3) Front Bumper | Limits the range of the free pivot. | "By analyzing typical loadings, we verified this plastic part would be able to keep the metal parts from contacting one another." |
| 4) Toeplate | Retains the forefoot of the ski boot and has to support the loads transmitted to the binding by the skier. | "By looking at the stress levels in the part, we optimized the wall thickness and embossment region." |
| 5) H-Body | Keeps the toeplate latched to the lower part of the binding. | "We confirmed that the part could support the vertical load imparted by the skier." |
| 6) Baseplate | Supports the loads of a skier pulling up and landing on the part. | "We simulated the loads required to rip a binding from a ski. Then, we validated the analysis results during physical testing by ripping the binding from the ski without damaging the part." |
| 7) Overcentre Link | Pulls the binding into ski mode from tour mode, locking the rear latch. | "We simulated the expected loads and verified displacements remained within the elastic range. By physically testing this part on the pull tester machine, we validated our ALGOR results." |
| 8) Actuator Lever | Controls how the user can switch from ski mode to tour mode by pressing the carbide tip of a ski pole against it. | "We needed to ensure the strength of the cup was sufficient. We also wanted to optimize the size of the pocket as well as the wall thickness. Additionally, the part has a flexible arm that holds the part in place. By using ALGOR, we could predict how much load it would take to depress the arm and thus achieve the 'locking feel' that we required." |
Design refinement for the TARGA Ascent touring binding involved more than a year of on-snow testing with G3 engineers and guides. "Rigorous in-house testing is crucial," said Shute, "but using the binding in real-life conditions gives us a more complete understanding of the product and the subtle relationships between the parts, helping us to make refinements during the development process."
The G3 TARGA Ascent is now in production and available at select retailers world-wide. "It's telemark's lightest (1400 grams or 49.4 ounces), high-performance touring binding," said Shute. "Professional explorers and guides choose G3 TARGA Ascent bindings because they are built to stand up to today’s big boots and aggressive skiers."
Cameron Shute, Product Development Engineer with G3 Genuine Guide Gear Inc., used ALGOR FEA software to analyze components of the TARGA Ascent telemark ski binding. |
Cameron Shute, P.Eng., earned a B.Sc in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Alberta, and a M.A.Sc in Mechanical Engineering from the University of British Columbia (Biomedical program). He is a Product Development Engineer for G3 Genuine Guide Gear Inc. in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. For more information about G3, visit www.genuineguidegear.com.
The names of companies and products mentioned herein may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
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