Success Story Product News Casting Corporate

SPECIAL REPORT SUCCESS STORY PRODUCT NEWS CASTING CORPORATE hrough its extensive collaboration in academic MIZUNO Corporation and European projects and T joint studies, ESI Group’s uses PAM-CRASH biomechanical activities have led to many capabilities in PAM-CRASH for modeling the human body, including to improve sports active musculoskeletal models, as well as modeling of bone fracture and footwear performances ligament injury. MIZUNO Corporation found it appropriate also for modeling inoffensive body impacts found in sport. MIZUNO Corporation applies advanced technologies to superior quality sporting goods in order to design products with unique features that enhance athlete’s performances. Fig. 1 The simulation of the impact Among its numerous studies on between the upper and the soccer ball Fig. 2 The design of the upper footwear development, MIZUNO Corp. has been using PAM-CRASH More support in their quest for improved results in numerous applications. in side-stepping In most sports such as soccer, Fig. 4 Stress Soccer: Improving Speed volleyball, tennis and basketball, distribution and and Control player movements are often made principal stress in cross directions. If the shoe upper directions on Computer simulation reveals is excessively deformable, the shoe the upper phenomena that cannot be measured will not sufficiently support the foot in of the shoe with real-life testing. Using PAM- the cross direction. Therefore, shoe CRASH, MIZUNO Corporation has design must be such that a sturdy Fig. 3 The FEM lower leg model simulated the impact of a soccer material is set in a way that will not player’s shoe on a soccer ball in order interfere with running, but will help the to improve both speed and control. upper to support the foot. In order to identify the specific location of this When a player kicks the ball, he reinforcement, MIZUNO Corporation needs to be able to deliver top speed. has measured lateral movements of Therefore, a high reflection coefficient a professional athlete, and simulated of the shoe’s upper (top of the shoe) the motion with PAM-CRASH. The is important. Furthermore, he needs Finite Elements Model (FEM) for the to be able to control the soccer ball’s lower leg consisted of the bones, soft direction and spin. The longer the tissues, shoe upper and shoe sole contact time between the upper and (Fig.3). Through simulation, the value the soccer ball, the more control the and direction of the stress in the upper Fig. 5 The volleyball shoe. player gets. were calculated (Fig.4). The highest The seam is embroidered on the upper. stresses were revealed in the area of the In order to provide the best compromise fifth proximal phalanx in the upper, and to its demanding customers, MIZUNO a significant deformation of the upper About MIZUNO Corporation Corporation used PAM-CRASH to appeared during sidesteps. In order to simulate the contact between the control deformation and reduce power upper and the soccer ball (Fig.1), using loss, the shoe was reinforced at this MIZUNO Corporation’s principal activities are the manufacture and various materials and geometries. specific location (Fig.5). sale of golf, baseball and other sports equipment, sportswear and The two parameters sought were the footwear. The operations are carried out through two divisions reflection coefficient of the upper and Through these two similar yet very namely: Sporting Goods and Other. Sporting Goods division deals the contact time. The valuable output different studies using ESI Group’s in golf goods, other sports goods, sports wear and shoes. Other data allowed MIZUNO Corporation human modeling capabilities, MIZUNO to choose optimal materials for the Corporation has been able to provide operations include sports facilities such as management of track ‘shoot’ area (infront and instep kick its demanding customers with yet fields, tennis courts, gyms, golf driving ranges and golf courses. areas) and the ‘pass’ area (inside kick more comfort and performance in These products are also marketed in European and American area), as shown in Fig.2. high-end sporting footwear. countries as well as in Asia. 11 www.esi-group.com PAM-TALK #34 SPRING 2007 success story.

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