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Measuring the traction profile on sportsfields: Equipment development and testing

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Roche, M.B., Loch, D.S., Poulter, R.E. and Zeller, L.C. (2008) Measuring the traction profile on sportsfields: Equipment development and testing. In: II International Conference on Turfgrass Science and Management for Sports Fields. Acta Horticulturae 783. International Society for Horticultural Science, Beijing, China.

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Publisher URL: http://www.actahort.org/index.htm

Abstract

Traction is recognised as an important component of the overall playability and safety of a sportsfield. It relates to the "grip", or footing, provided through an athlete's shoe when in contact with the surface, and is normally measured by the torque generated when a weighted studded disc apparatus is dropped onto the turf and twisted manually. This paper describes the development of an automated traction tester, which mechanises the dropping and twisting of the weighted studded disc. By standardising these operational stages, more repeatable and reliable results can be expected than from the original hand-operated design where positioning of the disc and speed of rotation are controlled manually and so can vary from one measurement to the next. As well as measuring the maximum torque reached during rotation of the studded disc, the automated traction tester generates a profile of torque showing changes over time and calculates the angle through which the studded disc moved before reaching maximum torque. These aspects are now covered by a utility patent (PAT/AU/2004270767). Use of the automated traction tester is illustrated by comparative data for a range of warm-season turfgrasses, by comparisons of traction under different surface conditions generated by wear on Cynodon dactylon cultivars, and by the effects of environment, management and playing patterns on traction across a multi-use sports stadium.

Item Type:Book Section
Corporate Creators:Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI), Agri-Science, Crop and Food Science , Horticulture and Forestry Science, Emerging Technologies
Business groups:Crop and Food Science, Horticulture and Forestry Science
Additional Information:© International Society for Horticultural Science.
Keywords:Torque; traction; warm-season grasses; turfgrass; Cynodon dactylon; Poaceae.
Subjects:Science > Statistics > Experimental design
Plant culture > Methods for special areas
Live Archive:12 Jan 2009 01:35
Last Modified:03 Sep 2021 16:43

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