Material state
Record reinforcement, resin, storage history and processing instructions. A material label does not describe the finished laminate.
Read the material dossierIndependent engineering notes / Workshop route
The engineering beneath a bobsleigh run
A runner profile becomes a contact condition. A mould becomes a repeatable shell. Follow the decisions, measurements and evidence that connect them.
Trace the engineering chainInspection 01 / Ice interface
Start at the ice — runner contact
A polished surface is not a complete specification. Runner geometry, alignment, temperature and load all influence the interface. Begin by defining what can be measured, then separate that record from assumptions about friction.
Inspect the runners
Inspection 02 / External flow
Shape against the clock — shell aerodynamics
The useful question is not whether a shell looks streamlined. It is whether a defined geometry changes measured forces under conditions that represent the sled, its crew and its surroundings.
Follow the airflowInspection 03 / Manufacturing record
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02
03
Build for repeatability — fabrication
Tool to part
Define tool datums, layup orientation, cure records and trim references before the first shell leaves the mould.
Follow the fabrication sequenceAssembly evidence
Measure interfaces after release and again after assembly. Fastener fit and load paths belong in the inspection plan.
Inspect the interfacesInspection 04 / Controlled comparison
Prove the change — controlled testing
A quicker run is an observation, not yet an explanation. Track condition, push, crew position and measurement uncertainty can all obscure a hardware effect.
Build a test planA comparison that can be audited
- State the hypothesis
- Hold the baseline
- Log conditions
- Review uncertainty
Keep unsuccessful trials. Exclusions need a reason defined before the result is known.
Inspection 05 / Source check
Rules before results — standards and sources
Published requirements
The International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation publishes the sport’s international rules. Consult the applicable edition and event communications before designing or modifying equipment.
IBSF document libraryMeasurement language
Geometrical specifications, test standards and uncertainty guides help describe evidence. They do not automatically establish eligibility for competition.
Measurement referencesIndependent interpretation
We distinguish requirements, methods and engineering interpretation. This website is not affiliated with the IBSF, a national federation or an equipment manufacturer.
Our editorial approachBefore the next inspectionRead workshop queries
Workshop answers — FAQ preview
Does a smoother runner always produce less resistance?
No universal conclusion follows from roughness alone. Geometry, load, temperature and the ice state also matter. A controlled comparison needs all of these conditions documented.
Can simulation replace a track test?
No. Simulation can isolate mechanisms and compare hypotheses, but its assumptions need validation against physical evidence.