pain2005[1].pdf (382.79 kB)
Video analysis of the deformation and effective mass of gymnastics landing mats
journal contribution
posted on 2010-11-11, 11:58 authored by Matthew PainMatthew Pain, Chris Mills, Fred YeadonFred YeadonIntroduction: Landing mats that undergo a large amount of area deformation are now essential for
the safe completion of landings from dismounts and vaults in gymnastics. The aim of this paper is
to determine the effective mass, shock transmission time and deformation characteristics of a mat
during impacts using high-speed video and hence improve the accuracy of measuring foot / mat
contact forces during landing. To this end the same variables need to be accurately assessed using
accelerometer and force plate data so that the high-speed video method can be validated.
Methods: A 24 kg impactor with an attached accelerometer was dropped onto the sample mat
from various heights. The surface deformation of the mat was recorded using high-speed video and
force data were obtained from a force plate beneath the mat.
Results: Impact velocities ranged from 4.3 ms-1 to 6.5 ms-1 resulting in maximum vertical
deformations between 0.088 m and 0.118 m with corresponding volume deformation estimates
ranging from 0.030 m3 to 0.044 m3. The delay between accelerometer and force plate readings at
initial contact was approximately 7 ms whereas the delay between peak acceleration and peak
force was 3 ms. The peak acceleration calculated from the video data was within 2.5 % of that
recorded via the accelerometer. The effective mass of the mat being accelerated corresponded to a
force that ranged from 481 N to 930 N and this cannot be ignored as it accounts for up to 12 % of
the peak force.
Conclusions: The acceleration estimates obtained from the high-speed video were combined with
the effective mass estimates from the volume calculation to give peak calculated forces at the
bottom of the mat to within -1.1% to +3.7% of the force recorded via the force plate. The use of
high-speed video can be used to give data of sufficient accuracy for measuring foot / mat contact
forces in gymnastics landings.
History
School
- Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences
Citation
PAIN, M.T.G., MILLS, C. and YEADON, M.R., 2005. Video analysis of the deformation and effective mass of gymnastics landing mats. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 37 (10), pp.1754-1760.Publisher
© American College of Sports MedicineVersion
- AM (Accepted Manuscript)
Publication date
2005Notes
This is a non-final version of an article published in final form in the journal, Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, available from: www.acsm.orgISSN
0195-9131Publisher version
Language
- en