Enhancing Impact Testing of Protective Polymer-based Foams According to EN 913 for Application in Sports Area

This paper shows preliminary results of a research aimed to improve passive safety of gymnastic equipments. To assess the impact attenuation performances of protective devices, mainly realized with polymer-based foams, impact testing standards are applied. Due to lack of criticism about test procedures and analysis of experimental results, the choice of the most safe device is not trivial. The first part of the paper shows the main impact testing procedures provided by international standards and defined for gymnastic equipments and playground area. In accordance to these standards the main impact attenuation performances for passive safety assessment are defined. The second part of the paper shows first experimental results obtained using new testing apparatus developed at the Sports Equipment and Technology Lab of Chemnitz University of Technology. Impact attenuation performances of two protective devices realised with polymer-based foams are analysed. The parameter of theoretical drop height is introduced to compare experimental results collected in our laboratory with others previously collected in an accredited laboratory. The comparison of test standards reveals a lack of specification in EN 913. Finally, new experimental sessions are planned to optimize material and architecture of polymer based foams used as protective device in order to easily assess passive safety improvement for gymnastic equipment.