Evaluation of Playing Surface Characteristics
of Various In-Filled Systems

Andrew S. McNitt, The Pennsylvania State University
Dianne Petrunak, The Pennsylvania State University

Surface hardness (Gmax), Head Injury Criterion (HIC), Severity Index (SI), and pad temperature of ten synthetic turf products. 2005
Treatment 21-28 July 11-22 August
Gmax¹ HIC² SI³ Pad temp
(°F)4		 Gmax¹ HIC² SI³ Pad temp
(°F)

¹ Surface hardness was measured according to ASTM standard F355.
² HIC = Head Injury Criterion
³ SI = Severity Index
4 Pad temperature was measured 0.5 inch below the pile backing.
5 F355 testing performed after wear simulating 96 games. Grooming of plots occurred on 5 and 9 Aug 2005.
No Wear
Astroplay 78.1 185.6 214.6 79.4 80.9 200.0 231.2 74.0
Astroturf 133.0 324.5 379.9 85.8 131.4 323.7 388.6 83.1
Experimental 87.5 239.2 292.3 81.4 90.3 219.8 255.5 81.6
Fieldturf 108.2 274.5 334.2 87.5 107.0 259.4 301.9 77.7
Geoturf 108.0 268.2 312.9 88.8 111.5 285.9 334.2 87.5
Nexturf 67.9 154.0 180.1 77.4 73.3 175.7 207.7 80.9
Omnigrass 41 93.9 234.3 272.6 81.9 96.4 257.3 297.6 83.5
Omnigrass 51 84.0 212.4 247.2 81.1 83.3 217.7 251.0 83.2
Sofsport 90.2 220.9 256.9 83.7 96.6 243.9 283.6 78.1
Sprintturf 108.5 248.5 293.5 82.4 115.2 282.2 330.9 76.7
Wear5
Astroplay 88.1 219.0 260.4 81.8 85.3 218.6 250.8 73.4
Astroturf 138.3 394.2 250.3 88.1 125.7 290.6 349.4 82.5
Experimental 113.6 313.9 393.8 80.3 98.1 246.3 286.2 81.5
Fieldturf 112.0 280.5 326.6 89.8 112.4 276.1 321.6 77.4
Geoturf 113.3 289.6 338.1 87.3 112.6 290.5 338.4 88.9
Nexturf 71.2 165.1 193.9 77.4 78.5 195.3 231.2 81.7
Omnigrass 41 109.6 298.2 347.3 82.1 106.1 294.4 340.6 84.6
Omnigrass 51 91.6 250.1 293.0 81.2 96.3 273.0 315.0 83.2
Sofsport 97.4 249.9 290.4 83.5 97.4 252.3 292.8 77.5
Sprintturf 129.1 308.6 366.6 83.4 127.5 323.4 380.6 77.6
LSD (p=0.05) 14.3 88.8 130.5 7.6 11.3 52.4 61.0 9.3
Surface hardness (Gmax) of six synthetic turf products determined by ASTM standard F355 prior to and after grooming. 2006
Treatment Gmax¹
11 Jul 18 Aug² 9 Sep 26 Sep²
¹Surface hardness was measured according to ASTM standard F355.
²Data collected in plot areas with extreme wear (in tractor tire tracks).
³F355 testing performed after wear simulating 108 games. Grooming of plots occurred on 23-24 Aug 2006.
No Wear
Astroturf 127.6 -- 126.7 --
Fieldturf 100.5 -- 113.7 --
Omnigrass 41 90.9 -- 93.7 --
Omnigrass 51 79.8 -- 108.1 --
Sofsport 92.9 -- 99.6 --
Sprintturf 114.6 -- 132.7
Wear³
Astroturf 130.3 145.0 125.7 147.1
Fieldturf 110.4 123.0 112.4 127.9
Omnigrass 41 103.8 115.8 106.1 120.8
Omnigrass 51 91.2 101.7 96.3 107.5
Sofsport 98.4 107.8 97.4 108.7
Sprintturf 128.7 135.8 127.5 139.8
LSD 3.5 16.3 11.3 13.3

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