The effect of maintenance on the performance of sand-filled synthetic turf surfaces

Abstract

The effect of infill quantity and contamination on the performance of second generation sand-filled synthetic turf sports surfaces was investigated in a laboratory study. Three 1 m² test surfaces were constructed by placing synthetic turf over a stone–tar-macadam–rubber shockpad sub-base. Ball rebound, ball roll, surface rebound hardness and rotational resistance of a dimpled rubber sole were measured for a range of infill quantities (0–35 kg/m²) and infill contamination concentrations (0, 10 and 20%). Increasing infill quantity increased hardness, reduced ball rebound and reduced rotational resistance linearly (p < 0.01). Ball deceleration increased up to 10 kg/m² after which there was no further significant increase in the range tested. An optimum infill quantity of 25–30 kg/m², based on performance characteristics and the length of fibre above the infill, was identified for the synthetic turf surface tested. Increasing contamination also increased ball deceleration and reduced infiltration rate and kept surfaces wetter for longer during drying (p < 0.001), resulting in conditions suitable for moss and algae formation. Maintenance, including regular brushing and monitoring of infill quantity, is required to ensure even distribution of the correct quantity of infill and the minimization of infill contamination in all infilled synthetic turf surfaces.

Keywords:

• Synthetic turf
• maintenance
• performance
• infill
• ball roll
• traction

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of the Institute of Groundsmanship, Milton Keynes, UK and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), UK, who sponsored this work.