Dynamic evaluation and simulation of safety, performance and uniformity of hardwood sports surfaces

Paul Windell Elliott, Purdue University

Abstract

The test currently used to evaluate the safety and performance characteristics of hardwood floor systems is the DIN standard 18032. The standard contains the tests and analysis procedures for several parameters. This study focused on the parameters dealing with ball rebound, impact reduction, and the deflection properties of the floor system. A finite element model of a floor system was developed to perform a material property study. This study indicated that the damping properties of the system must be determined to obtain accurate finite element results. The lack of understanding of the directionality of the material properties was also found to produce significant differences between the models and the field test results. A series of floors were tested to determine ball reflection, shock absorption, standard vertical deflection and area indentation properties using the standardized DIN procedures and using a slight variation to the standardized procedures. It was found that the two test methods did not produce results which were strongly correlated. Several of the standard test parameters were strongly correlated. These correlations were used to develop a new testing procedure. The repeatability of this procedure was found to be unacceptable. New parameters were then obtained from the data sets to evaluate the standardized DIN methods. These new parameters included time to maximum force, time to maximum deflection, load duration, floor stiffness, and energy returned during impact. These parameters were found to have acceptable repeatability characteristics, and were used along with the ball reflection parameter to evaluate the uniformity of the floor system. The uniformity of the floor systems was first examined using a GIS. The uniformity evaluation using the GIS was then used to develop a Uniformity Index. The Uniformity Index ordered the floors similar to the order obtained using the GIS. The Uniformity Index allows the uniformity of floor systems to be quantified in the same manner as the other DIN parameters. For the floors tested, the proposed Uniformity Index ranged from 91.6 to 96.5.

Degree

Ph.D.

Advisors

Haghighi, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Mechanical engineering|Sports medicine|Wood|Technology

Off-Campus Purdue Users:
To access this dissertation, please log in to our
proxy server
.

Share

COinS