Designation: F355 − 10a An American National Standard

Standard Test Method for

Impact Attenuation of Playing Surface Systems and
Materials1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F355; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of original
adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A superscript
epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents

1.1 This test method measures the impact attenuation of 2.1 ASTM Standards:2
playing surface systems and materials, specifically the peak D1596 Test Method for Dynamic Shock Cushioning Char-
impact acceleration (“impact shock”) produced under pre- acteristics of Packaging Material
scribed impact conditions. E105 Practice for Probability Sampling of Materials
1.2 This test method is applicable to natural and artificial E122 Practice for Calculating Sample Size to Estimate, With
playing surface systems intended to provide impact Specified Precision, the Average for a Characteristic of a
attenuation, including natural and artificial turf sports fields Lot or Process
and playground surfaces. E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
1.3 This test method is applicable to impact attenuating F1292 Specification for Impact Attenuation of Surfacing
mats and padding used in sports facilities, including stadium Materials Within the Use Zone of Playground Equipment
wall padding, gymnastic mats and wrestling mats. F2650 Terminology Relating to Impact Testing of Sports
1.4 This test method may be used to measure the impact Surfaces and Equipment
attenuation of materials and components used as protective 2.2 SAE Standard:
padding on trampoline frames, goal posts, etc., provided the SAE J211/1 Instrumentation for Impact Tests - Part 1 -
material or component can be tested separately from the Electronic Instrumentation (rev. July 2007)3
equipment to which it is attached.
1.5 Without modifications, this test method shall not be used 3. Terminology
to test materials and components that are attached to structures 3.1 Definitions:
or equipment or finished products, unless the impact attenua- 3.1.1 Definitions of terms related to impact testing of sports
tion of the whole system is of interest. surfaces equipment can be found in Terminology F2650.
1.6 While it is widely believed that appropriate impact
4. Summary of Test Method
attenuation can reduce the risk of impact-related injuries, the
relationships between the results of this test method and 4.1 A test specimen is impacted at a specified velocity with
specific injury risk and outcomes have not been determined. a missile of given mass and geometry. An accelerometer
mounted in the missile is used to record the acceleration-time
1.7 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
history of the impact and the peak acceleration is used as a
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
measure of impact severity. Optionally, the displacement his-
only.
tory of the impact may also be recorded.
1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the
4.2 This test method defines three missiles for use in playing
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
surface impact tests:
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
4.2.1 Missiles A and D are both cylindrical, with specified
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
mass and geometry and a circular, flat, metal impacting
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
surface. These missiles are used with a guidance mechanism.

1 2
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F08 on Sports For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Equipment, Playing Surfaces, and Facilitiesand is the direct responsibility of contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Subcommittee F08.52 on Miscellaneous Playing Surfaces. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Current edition approved July 1, 2010. Published August 2010. Originally the ASTM website.
3
approved in 1972. Last previous edition approved in 2010 as F355 – 10. DOI: Available from SAE International (SAE), 400 Commonwealth Dr., Warrendale,
10.1520/F0355-10A. PA 15096-0001, http://www.sae.org.

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States

1
 F355 − 10a
4.2.2 Missile E has a hemispherical impacting surface of 6.2.1.3 A supporting assembly (for example, a handle or
specified mass and geometry and may be used with a guidance ball arm) may be rigidly attached to the missile as a means of
system or, if equipped with a triaxial accelerometer, without connecting it to an external guidance system. The total mass of
guidance (“free-fall”). the drop assembly, which is the combined mass of the missile,
4.2.3 The specific masses and geometries of the missiles are accelerometer and supporting assembly shall be that defined in
detailed in 6.2. Table 1. The mass of the supporting assembly alone shall not
exceed 30 % of the total mass.
5. Significance and Use 6.2.2 Guidance Mechanism for Guided Impact Tests—For
5.1 The results of this method quantify the impact attenua- guided impact tests; the missile may be connected to low-
tion of playing surface and system specimens under the specific friction guides (such as a monorail, dual rails, or guide wires)
test conditions. using a follower or other mechanism in order to constrain the
5.2 The test method measures the outcome of impacts fall trajectory of the missile to a vertically downward path.
performed under specific conditions. It does not quantify the Missile A and D may be guided using a ventilated tube. The
intrinsic material properties of the tested specimens. guidance system must allow the missile to be leveled prior to
a drop and must maintain the missile in a level (65°) attitude
5.3 Test results from different specimens obtained under the during the drop. The guidance mechanism shall be constructed
same conditions (that is, the same missile mass and geometry, in a manner that that does not impede the trajectory of the
drop height, etc.) may be used to compare impact attenuation missile during its fall or during its contact with the surface
under those conditions. being tested; other than necessary impedance caused by
5.4 Test results obtained under different conditions are not friction in the guidance mechanism.
comparable. Specifically obtained with different missiles are 6.2.3 Support Structure for Free-Fall Impact Tests—For
not equivalent and cannot be directly compared. Similarly, test free-fall impact tests, a support structure (for example, a tripod)
results obtained using the same missile, but using different shall be used to ensure repeatable drop height and location. The
drop heights, are not directly comparable. support structure shall be sufficiently rigid to support the
weight of the missile without visible deformation. The support
6. Apparatus structure shall be erected in a manner that does not impede the
6.1 Anvil—For tests performed on surface samples in a trajectory of the missile during its fall or during its contact with
laboratory, the surface sample shall be mounted on a rigid anvil the surface being tested.
or base having a mass at least 100 times that of the missile. 6.2.4 Drop Height Control Mechanism—The guidance
6.2 Impact Test System—A device or system for performing mechanism of 6.2.2 or the support structure of 6.2.3 shall
an impact test in which an instrumented missile is dropped onto incorporate a means of repeatedly positioning the missile at a
a playing surface or surfacing material from a predetermined predetermined drop height.
drop height. 6.2.5 Release Mechanism—The operation of any release
6.2.1 Missile: mechanism provided as a means of initiating a drop of the
6.2.1.1 The missile shall have one of the combinations of missile shall not influence the fall trajectory of the missile
mass and geometry specified in Table 1. (See also Fig. 1.) following release.
6.2.1.2 The missile may include cavities and additional 6.3 Acceleration Measurement System—A transducer or
components required to accommodate the attachment of sen- transducers and associated equipment for measuring and re-
sors or to attach a supporting assembly. The form of any cording the acceleration of the missile during an impact with an
cavities or additional components shall be generally symmetri- accuracy of within 61 % of the true value.
cal about the Z-axis of the level missile such that center of 6.3.1 Accelerometers—An accelerometer shall be rigidly
mass lies within 0.08 in. (2 mm) of the Z-axis and the moments attached at the center of mass of the missile. The sensing axis
of inertia about any two horizontal axes do not differ by more or axes of the accelerometer shall pass through the center of
than 5 %. mass of the missile.

TABLE 1 Missile Mass and Geometry

Missile Impacting Mass Geometry
Surface
Shape
A Cylindrical 9.1 ± 0.050 kg Circular face with an area of 129 ±
2
(20.0 ± 0.11 lb) 2.0-cm (20 ± 1.0-in.2) and a
circumference-relieved radius of 2 ±
0.25 mm (0.08 ± 0.01 in.) to
eliminate sharp edges
D Cylindrical 2.25 ± 0.050 kg Circular face with a diameter of 50 ±
(4.95 ± 0.011 lb) 0.1 mm (1.97 ± 0.04 in.) and a
circumference-relieved radius of
0.75 ± 0.25 mm (0.03 ± 0.01 in.) to
eliminate sharp edges
E Hemispherical 4.6 ± 0.02 kg Hemispherical face with a diameter
(10.1 ± 0.05 lb) of 160 ± 2 mm (6.3 ± 0.1 in.)

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 F355 − 10a

FIG. 1 Schematics Showing Approximate Relative Geometries of the A, D, and E Missiles

6.3.1.1 For a free-fall test, a triaxial accelerometer is re- 6.3.5 Accelerometer Connections—The means of providing
quired. power and signal connections to the accelerometer (for
6.3.1.2 For a guided test, a single uniaxial accelerometer example, a cable) shall be constructed in a manner such that the
may be used. The accelerometer shall be rigidly attached at the connecting devices do not influence the trajectory of the
center of mass of the missile (62 mm) with its axis of missile before or during the impact test.
sensitivity aligned (65°) with the missile’s Z axis and passing 6.3.6 Accelerometer Signal Conditioning—Any signal con-
through the center of mass of the missile. ditioning of amplifying electronics required for proper opera-
6.3.2 Accelerometers shall have a minimum sensitive range tion of accelerometers shall be of a type recommended by the
of 6500 g and be capable of tolerating accelerations of at least accelerometer manufacturer and shall have impedance and
1000 g along any axis. frequency response characteristics that are compatible with the
6.3.3 Accelerometer Calibration—Accelerometers shall be accelerometer.
calibrated by reference to a National Institute of Standards and 6.3.7 Accelerometer Signal Filtering:
Technology (NIST) traceable standard using a shaker table to 6.3.7.1 Anti-Aliasing Filter—To prevent aliasing in the digi-
excite a range of frequencies and amplitudes determined tized acceleration data, the acceleration signals shall be filtered
suitable by the accelerometer manufacturer. The calibration with an analog low pass filter prior to digitization. The
procedure shall include, as a minimum, the range of frequen- anti-aliasing filter shall have a corner frequency of 5000 6 500
cies from 2 to 2000 Hz. Hz or a maximum of 0.25× the single channel sampling rate.
NOTE 1—Accelerometer calibration is usually performed by the manu- 6.3.7.2 Data Channel Filter—Digitized data shall be filtered
facturer. in accordance with the specification for an SAE Channel Class
6.3.4 Accelerometers shall be recalibrated at a time interval 1000 data channel, using a 4th order Butterworth. An analog
recommended by the equipment manufacturer or every two filter may be substituted provided it has 4-pole characteristics
years, which ever is the lesser time interval. and conforms to the data channel specification.

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 F355 − 10a
6.3.8 Recording Device—A digital recording device such as 6.4.2 For a guided impact test, the theoretical drop height
a digital storage oscilloscope, a dedicated waveform analyzer must be determined by measuring the velocity of the missile
of a computer equipped with an analog to digital converter immediately prior to the onset of an impact; at a point in the
shall be used to capture the acceleration time signal produced missile’s trajectory no more than 2.0 in. (51 mm) above the first
during an impact. Analog oscilloscopes and other analog point of contact between the missile and the surface under test.
recording devices shall not be used. The velocity measuring system may consist of a light gate
6.3.9 Resolution—The conversion from analog accelerom- device to measure the time an opaque flag interrupts a light
eter signal to digital data shall be accomplished with a digitizer sensor or other appropriate means. The velocity measuring
having a resolution of 0.25 g or less. (For example, a twelve bit device shall not interfere with or impede the trajectory of the
digitizer spanning the range 6500 g has a resolution of 0.244 missile and shall be capable of recording impact velocity with
g.) a resolution of 0.1 ft/s–1 (0.03 m/s–1) and an accuracy of 61 %
6.3.10 Sample Rate—The minimum sampling rate of the of the true value.
recording device shall be 10.0 kHz per accelerometer channel. NOTE 2—Since theoretical drop height is proportional to the square of
When a triaxial accelerometer is used, three individual digitiz- impact velocity, the 62 % tolerance on drop height measurement and the
ers (one per accelerometer axis), each with a minimum 61 % tolerance on velocity measurement are equivalent. For a typical flag
sampling rate of 10 kHz are required. and light gate velocimeter to achieve 61 % accuracy, the flag width must
be known to an accuracy of 60.5 % and the transit time measured with an
6.3.11 Capacity—The digitizer shall be capable of recording
accuracy of 620 µs (that is, a timing device with a clock rate of at least
and storing data continuously for a minimum of 50 ms, 50 kHz is required).
beginning at least 5 ms before onset of the impact and ending
6.5 Battery Operated Equipment—Battery-operated equip-
no earlier than 5 ms after the cessation of the impact.
ment shall have a means of monitoring battery voltage (for
6.3.12 Display—The recording system shall have the capa-
example, a voltage gauge or indicator).
bility of displaying the recorded acceleration-time data in order
to allow inspection by the operator. A graphical display is 6.6 System Integrity Check—Prior to and following each
recommended, but a tabular printout or other form of display is use, the test apparatus shall be checked for proper operation.
acceptable. The display shall allow inspection of all the data The system integrity check shall include, as a minimum, the
points recorded from at least 5 ms before the onset of impact following steps:
until no less than 5 ms after cessation of the impact. The 6.6.1 The battery status of each piece of battery-operated
display shall show acceleration data in a manner that allows equipment shall be checked to ensure adequate power avail-
inspection of all data points lying in the acceleration range ability and voltage level.
from –10 g to a value that exceeds the maximum recorded 6.6.2 Test the proper operation of the equipment by per-
acceleration value. forming the instrumentation check described in 10.1.
6.3.13 Accelerometer Data Channels:
6.3.13.1 Accuracy—The accuracy of the each data channel 7. Test Specimen
shall be such that the maximum acceleration recorded during 7.1 Test specimens shall represent the playing surface or
an impact is recorded is within 61 % of the true value. protective padding as it is intended to be used. The minimum
6.3.13.2 Frequency Response—All acceleration data distance between the outer dimension of the missile and the
channels, before signal filtering, shall have a flat frequency edge of the specimen shall be at least 25.4 mm (1 in.) and no
response 60.1 dB in a range extending from below a maxi- less than the thickness of the specimen.
mum of 1.0 Hz to above a minimum of 2000 Hz.
6.3.13.3 Channel Frequency Class—All acceleration data 8. Number of Specimens
channels, including signal filtering, shall, as a minimum, 8.1 The number of specimens tested as a sample can vary
conform to the requirements of a Channel Frequency Class widely, depending upon the intended use of the data. It is
1000 data channel, as specified by SAE J211/1. recommended that at least two specimens be tested for each set
6.4 Drop Height Measurement—A means of repeatably of conditions. To obtain a specific quality assurance level, the
determining the missile’s drop height with a resolution of 1 in. sampling procedures of Practices E105 and E122 should be
(25 mm) and to an accuracy of 61 % of the true value is followed.
required.
6.4.1 For a free-fall impact test, the drop height shall be 9. Conditioning
measured directly, prior to release of the missile, using a 9.1 Do not stack the specimens during any conditioning.
measuring stick, a steel tape or other appropriate means where They shall be under the intended use condition or precondi-
possible. An indirect means of determining the theoretical drop tioned at 50 6 2 % relative humidity and 23 6 2°C for a
height shall also be used. Such indirect means may comprise minimum of 4 h, or until desired temperature is attained.
the velocity measuring system described in 6.4.2, or a means of Samples to be tested at other than these conditions shall be
measuring the time interval between release of the missile and stored in the desired environment for at least 4 h, or until they
the onset of impact (the fall time), in which case the time reach the desired temperature, before testing. Samples shall be
interval shall be determined with a resolution and accuracy of tested (that is, impacted) within 10 s after removal from the
1.0 ms. Both the measured drop height and the theoretical drop environmental chamber. Samples shall be returned to the
height shall be reported. environmental chamber within 20 s after impact and stored for

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 F355 − 10a
at least 2 h between drops. Testing at other than ambient expression, involving the time-average acceleration by varying
precludes conducting successive drops at short time intervals. of the time interval over which the average is calculated.
Numerical evaluation of the HIC requires analog-to-digital
NOTE 3—Due to differing thermal conductivities and the extreme time
dependence of temperature profiles in most materials exposed to extreme conversion of the acceleration time profile using a sampling
surface temperature changes there may be variability introduced by this rate sufficient to characterize the pulse accurately. These data
type of testing. are easily processed by a digital computer. The HIC number is
10. Procedure determined by evaluating the equation for all iterative combi-
nations of the integration limits that the time interval allows for
10.1 Prewarm the recording equipment as recommended by the evaluation. The equation4,5 for calculating the HIC value is
the manufacturer. Calibrate G time and penetration-time re- as follows:
corder in accordance with the recommended procedure of the
equipment manufacturer. F
HIC 5 ~ t 2 2 t 1 ! S~ 1
t 2 2 t 1! *t1
t2
adt DG
2.5
max (2)
10.2 Place the specimen under the missile, or orient the
dynamic test equipment over the playing surface system. A time interval of 0.05 ms should be used.
10.3 Determine the baseline by preloading the test specimen 11.5 Maximum Penetration—Determine the maximum dis-
to 6.8 kPa (1.0 psi) for Procedure A and adjusting the recorder placement to the nearest 0.254 mm (0.01 in.).
to read zero penetration. When testing at other than ambient 11.6 Time to Maximum Penetration—Determine the time to
conditions, determine the baseline with the sample at the maximum penetration.
desired test temperature. 11.7 Rebound Velocity—Use a straightedge to draw a tan-
NOTE 4—When using Procedures B or C, care should be exercised to gent line at the exit of the penetration-time trace. The slope of
lower the missile gently onto the sample when establishing the baseline. this line, multiplied by the appropriate distance and time
10.4 Set the missile-propelling mechanism to obtain the calibration, is the rebound velocity. Alternatively, the rebound
desired impact velocity. velocity may be determined by other velocity-measuring de-
vices that measure the coefficient of restitution or percent
10.5 Release the missile, and record the results in accor-
rebound of the missile.
dance with the recommended procedures of the equipment
manufacturers. 11.8 Dynamic Hardness Index (relevant only to Procedure
A)—Calculate the dynamic hardness index as follows:
10.6 Make three consecutive drops at intervals of 36 0.25
min, unless otherwise specified (see 9.1). G max 3 S 3 W
Dynamic hardness index 5 (3)
A 3P
NOTE 5—Calculation of Theoretical Drop Height: For comparison of
data based on drop height, only the theoretical drop height should be used. where:
The following calculation should be used (see Test Method D1596):
S = sample thickness, cm (in.),
H 5 V 2 /2g (1) W = missile weight, kg (lb),
A = missile area, cm2 (in.2), and
where:
P = maximum penetration, cm (in.).
H = theoretical height, mm (in.),
V = velocity, mm/s (in./s), and 11.9 Conformity of Data Test:
g = acceleration of gravity, 9806 mm/s/s (386 in./s/s). 11.9.1 Total sum of G values for each 0.05 ms.
This calculation eliminates variations in using actual drop height, 11.9.2 Test conformity to following relationship:
which may be affected by frictional losses.
20 000
11. Calculation ~ | V i | 1 | V r |! g
5 @ sum# G (4)

11.1 Gmax—Determine the maximum deceleration in the where:

time-deceleration history to the closest G.
Vi = missile velocity at start of impact,
11.2 Time to Gmax—Determine the time to maximum decel- Vr = missile velocity upon rebound from surface of
eration to the nearest 0.05 ms. material,
11.3 Severity Index—The time integral of deceleration ex- g = acceleration of gravity units, and
ponentiated 2.5 times may be calculated by dividing the [sum]G = sum of the G values at each 0.05 ms over the total
deceleration-time record into equally sized time subintervals of duration of impact.
magnitude of 0.05 ms and summing the deceleration values (in 11.9.3 Incongruity of greater than 5 % warrants search for
G) exponentiated 2.5 times between the two intersections of errors in the apparatus or the instrumentation system, or both.
the deceleration record and the time axis. Multiply this result
by the time subinterval length (in seconds) and the result is the 12. Report
Severity Index in G-s. 12.1 Report the following information:
11.4 Head Injury Criterion—More sophisticated methods of
data integration such as the Head Injury Criterion (HIC) may 4
Chou, C., and Nyquist, G., “Analytical Studies of the Head Injury Criterion,”
be used if desired. The HIC evolved from the Severity Index Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), Paper No. 740082, 1974.
calculation and requires the maximization of the mathematical 5
See Specification F1292, Appendixes X1 and X2.

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 F355 − 10a
12.1.1 Complete identification of material tested, including 13. Precision and Bias
type, source, manufacturer’s lot number (if appropriate), thick-
13.1 Precision—The reproducibiltiy is estimated to be
ness (if measureable), and any other pertinent information,
615 % between laboratories and 62.5 % within a laboratory.
12.1.2 Conditions of test, including temperatures, humidity,
and any other pertinent data, NOTE 6—This precision statement is based on a series of round-robin
12.1.3 Date of test, tests. The data were analyzed in accordance with Practice E691.
12.1.4 Procedure used and missile description, including 13.2 Potential sources of error or deviations that were
mass and geometry, accounted for in the procedure, but may not be strictly adhered
12.1.5 Method of determining the baseline, to, are as follows:
12.1.6 Impact velocity, 13.2.1 Variations in the time between impacts required,
12.1.7 Average values of last two of three impacts or as
13.2.2 Variations in the impact velocity as a result of
specified,
differences in drop height or friction in the drop guidance
12.1.8 Gmax,
system, and
12.1.9 Severity Index (SI) or Head Injury Criterion (HIC)
(optional), 13.2.3 Variations in test laboratory temperatures.
12.1.10 Time to Gmax(optional),
12.1.11 Maximum penetration (optional), 14. Keywords
12.1.12 Time to maximum penetration (optional), and 14.1 Gmax; head injury criterion (HIC); impact; playing
12.1.13 Dynamic hardness index (optional). surfaces; shock absorbing; surface materials

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