German engineers are helping to design a bobsled run for the 2014 Winter Olympics using a new track simulator. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials (IWM) have created a 3.8m-high wheel-shaped rig that can be used to measure the levels of friction between a bobsled and the particular type of ice that will be used to build a new track. Test runners representing those on the bottom of a bobsled are placed on a layer of ice inside the wheel, which is then spun at up to 150km/h (93mph) to simulate the movement of a sled down a run. By recreating the environmental conditions of the location where the track will be situated, including ice created with water from the site, researchers can provide data to help design the track for maximum speed within safety limits.
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