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14:40   Sports surfaces; properties and performance Chair: Alexander Walker 14:40 20 mins ARTIFICIAL TURF FIELD – A ‘NEW BUILD’ CASE STUDY Paul Fleming, Michael Ferrandino, Steph Forrester Abstract: Artificial turf is widely used around the world and is used successfully for many sports and at many levels of performance requirement. Enhanced quality assurance systems set in place by sport governing bodies, such as FIFA’s Quality Concept for Football, increasingly require inspection and certification of the whole pitch build from the drainage system through the baseworks and to the top of carpet. Monitoring and testing is then required through its life to maintain its certification for (high level) competition. However, there exists very limited published case study data that presents the build quality and monitoring data in a form to share knowledge and best practice for the wide range of stakeholders or for the maintenance provider to make maximum use of this important data. This paper presents a (unique) case study overview of the key activities undertaken and the measurement data and observations made during the construction of a full size elite level artificial (3rd generation) turf pitch, in autumn 2014 at Loughborough University. The research team monitored all the construction layers with a variety of specialist geotechnical devices, and additionally instrumented the pitch for drainage performance and thermal heat transfer. The surface system was fully evaluated for play performance related properties and physical properties during its early life. The play performance test results, combined with intensity of use data and maintenance programme, give a unique insight into the surface system initial state and the early life changes that occurred, such as infill compaction and changes in free pile height. The collective outcomes of the case study findings are considered useful to both academics and practitioners to further our understanding of appropriate methods of effective sports pitch monitoring for quality and performance and early-life in service changes. The geotechnical measurements add to the current (global) debate on pitch base build quality. 15:00 20 mins MODELING THE INTERACTION BETWEEN RACEHORSE LIMB AND RACE SURFACE Jennifer Symons, David Hawkins, David Fyhrie, Susan Stover Abstract: Race surface mechanics affect racehorse limb motions that are consistent with observed musculoskeletal pathologies. Musculoskeletal injuries are the leading cause of racehorse fatalities and attrition. Thus, race surface design and mechanics have been an area of interest within the racing industry. Race surfaces are costly to install, upwards of $8 million. Therefore, installation of experimental race surfaces to determine their effect on racehorse limb motion is not financially feasible. Furthermore, field data collection is time consuming, labor intensive, and requires the use of live animals. Computational modelling provides an economical option to survey a wide range of surface mechanics and their effect on racehorse limb motions and propensity for injury. This research aimed to develop and evaluate an integrated racehorse limb and race surface computational model. The interaction of a virtual galloping racehorse impacting virtual race surfaces was modelled in SIMM by combined forward/inverse dynamics. Prior kinematic video analyses were averaged to determine proximal fore limb, trunk, and hind limb kinematic profiles throughout gallop stance, as well as distal fore limb initial conditions. All distal fore limb joints and hoof translations were free to respond to external forces applied by the race surface model during stance. Race surface model coefficients were determined from previously measured race surface mechanics and forward dynamic simulations of a track-testing device. Simulation results were compared to distal fore limb motions of actual galloping racehorses on mechanically measured race surfaces. Model predicted kinematic profiles (metacarpophalangeal angle and hoof translations) had similar qualitative shapes and comparable peak magnitudes to experimental data. Simulated peak metacarpophalangeal angle and hoof translations were within 11 degrees and 4 cm respectively. The model’s ability to reproduce biologically reasonable metacarpophalangeal angles and hoof translations support its future use to determine the effect of race surface parameters on racehorse limb motions, and propensity for injury. Virtual race surface parameters consistent with desired limb motions will provide mechanical design criteria for future race surface installations. 15:20 20 mins SPATIAL VARIATION OF PHYSICAL AND BIOMECHANICAL PROPERTIES WITHIN AN EQUESTRIAN ARENA SURFACE Alison Jane Northrop, Sarah Jane Hobbs, Danielle Holt, Emma Clayton-Smith, Jaime Howard Martin Abstract: There is limited information about spatial variation of equestrian arena surfaces despite unequivocal evidence to suggest that lack of uniformity increases risk of injury. Spatial differences in the functional properties of an arena are likely to be due to a number of intrinsic and extrinsic characteristics including variation in the physical properties of the surface. The aim of this work was to examine spatial variation of peak load (cushioning) across an arena surface and investigate the influence that physical properties had on these variations using Principal Component Analysis. Sampling (n=61) of a 20 m by 65 m indoor synthetic equestrian arena surface occurred in one day using an Orono biomechanical surface tester (OBST). The OBST was used at every location to measure peak load (dropped twice on the same point). A 200 g sample of the surface was taken from the point of impact (at every location) and the physical properties were assessed in the laboratory. Samples were oven dried at 45⁰C for 24 hours in order to measure moisture content and percentage binder was quantified using Soxhlet extraction. Sand particle size distribution were determined using sieving and sedimentation methods and percentage organic matter was achieved by burning off organic material using a muffle furnace at 440⁰C. The surface was characterized by three principal components (PC1, PC2 and PC3). Peak load and moisture were the first principal components that accounted for 41% of surface variation. Percentage organic matter and percentage binder were identified as PC2 (20%) and PC3 (18%) respectively. This highlights their respective importance in surface variation. There was a moderate negative correlation between moisture and peak load (rs = 54%; P<0.0001) however cluster analysis revealed that peak load and moisture were grouped into five areas of similarity that corresponded to sample location, reinforced using an ANOVA (P<0.0001). The findings demonstrate an effective method of assessing uniformity and additionally, identify physical factors relevant to the load carrying capacity of this specific surface. Uneven surfaces can influence horse and rider safety therefore recognizing appropriate techniques to monitor spatial variation and implement relevant maintenance, is of key importance to equestrian athletes.