| EPSRC Reference: |
EP/C512243/1 |
| Title: |
Engineering sustainable sports surfaces: investigating human - sport surface interactions |
| Principal Investigator: |
James, Dr I |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Cranfield University at Silsoe |
| Organisation: |
Cranfield University |
| Scheme: |
First Grant Scheme Pre-FEC |
| Starts: |
01 August 2005 |
Ends: |
31 October 2008 |
Value (£): |
125,272
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Biomechanics & Rehabilitation |
Pavement Engineering |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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This First Grant proposal will develop a model that predicts natural sports surface behaviour in response to human participants, to inform sports surface engineering and sports biomechanics so that the use of natural sports surfaces can be increased to provide facilities for increased participation in sport with minimum injury risk. This provision is essential for the reduction of disease risk factors through a sustained increase in sports participation, promoted by Government Departments, without putting the population at risk from surface related sports injuries.A key hypothesis of this research is that natural sports surface degradation is a function of turf-reinforced soil mechanical stress-strain behaviour in response to deviatoric stress from the human body. Novel methodology will be used in a series of three experiments to (1) determine mechanical parameters for three natural surface construction materials at different moisture contents; (2) quantify the deviatoric stresses applied by the human body in running, accelerating from rest and turning in sports motion; and (3) determine the resultant surface deformation from the applied stresses.A new predictive model of sports surface mechanical behaviour, based on Critical State Soil Mechanical Theory, will be developed to synthesise the experimental data. The validated model will then inform sports surface and equipment engineering research in the development of durable surfaces and improved footwear. Sports biomechanics research will benefit from the novel human - natural surface interaction data and the model of surface mechanical behaviour, which will inform kinematic and sports injury studies.The research will have wider implications that will directly benefit UK industry, sports governing bodies and participants in sporting activity; in addition, it will[ inform other research into human specific soil deformation, such as the protection of footpaths in National Parks.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.cranfield.ac.uk |