Abstract
In our previous study, DIN standard test was found to be inappropriate to evaluate the shock absorbency of long pile artificial turf (3-g turf), in particular for acute, high loading likely caused by human sports action, and a new testing procedure which precisely reproduce that load has been proposed as a better mechanical test. In the present study, therefore, an attempt was made to measure more representative shock absorbency of 3-g turfs (different infill components combined with shock pads) using that testing procedure. Also the shock absorbency of 3-g turf was compared with that of natural turf using acceleration change of the impact head of the test rig. Several types of 3-g turf tray with different infill: sand, rubbers (large, medium and small grain), sand/rubber and new type (shallow infill with underneath shock pad) were tested, and those combinations with underneath shock pads (rubber/urethane combined and polythene foamed) were also tested using the new testing procedure. In contrast to our general understanding, most types of 3-g turf (untouched condition) showed a smaller peak acceleration and a milder jerk than those of the natural turf. Moreover, a 3-g turf with unusual infill component with rubber shock pad demonstrated a quite similar jerk with that of the natural turf. This result may reinforce the needs for reconsideration of appropriate shock absorbency for 3-g turf.
