BMW two-man bob prototype passes challenging tests.

  • Successful test series for BMW two-man bobsled prototype on
    the ice tracks in Königssee and Altenberg.
  • First sled developed entirely using computer simulations
    sets new design process standards with promising results.
  • Olympic gold medalist Francesco Friedrich: “The BMW
    prototype is really very good.”
  • BMW two-man bobsled will be further optimised with the aim
    of it being in action in the 2019/2020 World Cup season.

 

Munich. The development of a BMW two-man bobsled, which is the
result of the partnership with the German Bobsleigh, Luge, and
Skeleton Federation (BSD), has reached an crucial milestone: Test
rides at Königssee and in Altenberg delivered promising results. The
sled concept developed exclusively using computer simulations and
verified in the BMW Aerodynamic and Research Center has proven
successful. Additional optimisation potential for the prototype will
be identified during further test rides in the coming weeks and will
feed into the design of a new sled. The goal is to use this in the
coming 2019/2020 World Cup season.

At the end of a development and test phase that lasted ten months
only, the BMW prototype passed its baptism of fire with flying
colours. With double Olympic champion Francesco Friedrich, world
champion Johannes Lochner and junior world champion Christoph Hafer on
the steering handles, the run times at the test rides at Königssee and
on the demanding track in Altenberg were within a few tenths of a
second of the current World Cup bob.

A measuring system provided by BMW Motorsport and modified for
bobsleds evaluated and compared all of the rides. Friedrich’s
impressions were extremely positive.

“It’s fascinating: BMW takes something on, and at the first attempt
it is really very good. So many companies have already tried to build
a sled, which was then mothballed after three days. In contrast, the
BMW prototype has already come a long way. The bob runs really well
and you can steer it precisely,” said the overall World Cup winner.
“The BMW engineers work very meticulously and with a lot of passion to
make sure it is as fast as or faster than the others.”

The innovative approach to the development of the new two-man bob
started from nothing, oriented itself on BMW vehicle development and
focused on the replicability of the sled. It was also about finding
the perfect balance between the stability and agility of the sled.

Initially, the design was developed exclusively using computer
simulations and the aerodynamics were optimised using the
“computational fluid dynamics (CFD)” numerical method. Around 10,000
different forms were calculated, including “digitalised athlete
dummies”: To develop sporting equipment with the ideal ergonomics for
the various BSD drivers and crewmen, the athletes were scanned, and
their body dimensions were incorporated into the calculations.

The design developed this way, considering aerodynamic and ergonomic
aspects was initially milled as a foam model, the values calculated on
the computer were verified in the BMW Group Aerodynamic Test Centre
and optimised in line with the analysis results obtained. This form
was manufactured using carbon to ensure reproducibility. The cutting
of the individual carbon layers was computer-controlled, and these
carbon layers were placed such that the sled is able to absorb the
huge G forces in the ice track optimally. Then, the model was baked in
an autoclave at 175 degrees. Thomas Hahn’s, head of the BMW technology
transfer, development team received support from the BMW partner
network in the motorsport sector.

“The approach and pioneering spirit of our technology partner BMW is
impressive time and again,” said Thomas Schwab, general secretary and
sports director of the BSD. “We are delighted that in the BMW
prototype an innovative approach demonstrated its great potential
right from the start and are excited to see what further development brings.”

Hahn is very pleased with the intermediate result and said: “The
initial test results are promising – both at Königssee and on an
extreme track like the one in Altenberg. We started with a blank sheet
of paper and it turned out that our calculations stood the test in
practice. Now we need to push the limits further in additional tests
and based on these results, identify the areas in which we can make improvements.”