The Science and Engineering of Sport Surfaces
Edited by Sharon Dixon, Paul Fleming, Iain James, Matt Carré
Sports surface design is crucial for the successful performance of sports skills and the reduction of injury risk. Surfaces have developed from natural materials such as turf, clay and cinder, to synthetic surfaces such as acrylic tennis courts, artificial turf for soccer and synthetic running tracks, while our understanding of natural turf has developed in terms of properties appropriate for different sports and surface sustainability. This book draws together the very latest research on biomechanical, medical and engineering approaches to the study of sports surfaces.
Written by a team of leading international sport scientists, engineers and technologists, the book covers every key aspect of surface development and design, including:
Representing the most comprehensive and up-to-date study of sports surfaces, this book is important reading for all researchers and professionals working in sports technology, sports engineering, biomechanics or sports medicine.
1. Introduction: history and development of sports surfaces 2. Surface Classification, Function, Construction and Maintenance 3. Mechanical testing and characterisation of sports surfaces 4. Sports Surfaces, Biomechanics and Injury 5. Sports Surfaces and Performance 6. Mechanical Aspects of Shoe-surface Interaction 7. Human-Shoe-Surface Interaction 8. Natural Turf Sports Surfaces 9. The Future of Sports Surfaces
Sharon Dixon is a Senior Lecturer in Sports Biomechanics at the University of Exeter where she leads the Exeter Biomechanics Research Team. Her research is in improving understanding of injury mechanisms in sport and exercise, with a particular focus on footwear and playing surfaces. Her recent work has included an interdisciplinary project on natural turf surfaces with Dr Iain James and a project in collaboration with Dr Matt Carré combining biomechanical and mechanical methods to improve understanding of surfaces used in tennis and the potential influence on injury
Paul Fleming is a Senior Lecturer in Geotechnical Engineering at Loughborough University and leads a research team in the area of sport surface science. His background is in advanced testing of geo-materials, including a PhD in dynamic impact testing, and geotechnical design and construction experience translated into the under-researched topic sport surface science in 2001. He sits on several technical committees including the BS committee for sport surface testing (PRI/57) and he founded the global SportSURF research network in 2005.