Abstract
Despite the potentially negative effects on play performance and safety, little is currently known about the spatial and temporal variability in the properties of artificial turf pitches. The primary purpose of this study was to quantify the spatial and temporal variations in surface hardness across a 5-year-old third-generation artificial turf pitch over full year cycle. The secondary purpose was to investigate the key variables that contributed to these variations in surface hardness using a correlation approach. Surface hardness (2.25 kg Clegg impact hammer, average of drops 2–5), ground temperature and infill depth were measured at 91 locations across the third-generation artificial turf pitch in 13-monthly test sessions from August 2011 to August 2012 inclusive. For each month, rainfall in the 24 h prior to testing and pitch usage statistics were also obtained. Shockpad thickness was obtained from measurements taken when the carpet was replaced in 2007. Spatial and temporal variations were assessed using robust statistical measures while Spearman correlation was used to assess the contributions of the secondary variables to surface hardness variability. The results indicated that spatial variation in surface hardness exceeded temporal variation; the former demonstrated a median absolute deviation of 12 ± 1 G across the pitch in any test session while the median absolute deviation for the latter was only 4 ± 2 G across the 13 test sessions. Spatial variation in surface hardness was moderately correlated with shockpad thickness and weakly correlated with infill depth (both negative). These results reinforce the importance of monitoring spatial and temporal variations in play performance variables for third-generation surfaces as well as providing support for the role of maintenance in minimising the spatial variation.
Highlights
Artificial turf (AT) surfaces, in particular third generation (3G), are becoming increasingly popular in sports facilities across the United Kingdom[1] as well as more globally due to climatic changes and urban growth in many countries
The spatial variation corresponded to a range of ;80 G across the pitch in any test session, while the temporal variation was less than half this with a range of ;20 G for the pitch across test temporal variation, but small spatial variation in ground temperature compared to the temporal variation
The spatial variation corresponded to a range of ;8 mm across the pitch in any test session, while the temporal variation was only slightly lower with a range of ;5 mm for the pitch across test sessions
Summary
Artificial turf (AT) surfaces, in particular third generation (3G), are becoming increasingly popular in sports facilities across the United Kingdom[1] as well as more globally due to climatic changes and urban growth in many countries. The 3G carpet layer has a longer pile length, less abrasive fibres, greater infill depth and lower tuft density compared to earlier generations[1] (Figure 1). The fundamental play performance of AT pitches is dependent on the design and installation of the surface system and principally by the properties and interactions between the components comprising the shockpad and carpet layers (Figure 1). In situ play performance depends on levels of usage and maintenance as well as environmental and climatic factors such as ground temperature, moisture content and contamination (e.g. both organic matter such as foliage from surrounding trees and inorganic matter such as fractured fibres) within the system.[2] It is typically characterised through a series
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