Climbing ropes
The work package "climbing ropes" is about the investigation of the material aging of climbing ropes due to weather conditions and in particular
increased UV radiation in the alpine area. The planned sequence of activities in this work package is divided into 3 steps:
- Investigation of the material properties of commercial, new climbing ropes.
- Free weathering of the ropes, with detailed documentation of the environmental conditions (in particular temperature and UV exposure).
- New investigations of the material properties at different times after weathering to derive critical limits.
The development of a UV-sensitive sensor laser, which changes its colour as a function of the accumulative UV effect, is triggered at the same
time. When a critical limit value is reached, the sportsman signals that the rope has to be replaced for safety reasons.
Friction of textiles on snow
This work package deals with the development of textiles that have favorable friction properties on snow and ice due to the special features
of their surface structure. In the case of falls (e.g. in alpine skiing), an efficient speed reduction is promoted by high surface friction
and the risk of consequential injuries is reduced.
The technology center for skiing and alpine sports adapts its tribometer for the purpose of determining the coefficient of friction of textiles
on different surfaces. In order to be able to replace these technically complex measurements in the routine material testing, Dolomiticert
elaborates alternative laboratory tests, the results of which are correlated with those of the tribometer. The Institute for Textile Chemistry
and Physics is responsible for material development and develops prototypes for testing at the technology center and at Dolomiticert by
using various textile processing techniques.
Textile ergonomics
The work package "Textile ergonomics" develops innovative sports textiles for use in alpine sports (mainly mountain hiking and cross-country
skiing). The textiles must be characterized by favorable thermoregulatory properties while at the same time ensuring the necessary protection
against environmental influences and the required freedom of movement. To this end, the Institute for Sports Science at the University of
Innsbruck is developing the framework conditions that the corresponding textiles must meet.
This results in specific requirements for sportswear, which are taken into account in the development of prototypes by the Institute for
Industrial Engineering at the University of Padua.
Wear trials in the climatic chamber of the technology center for skiing and alpine sports provide information about the effects of these textiles
on comfort and physical performance.
