Precision and Talent at the Games

Practiced in more than 140 countries, archery made its Olympic debut in 1900. After taking a 64 year hiatus, it once again became an Olympic sport during the Munich games in 1972. Although watching this year’s Olympians make it look so easy, one would have to imagine much training and talent is required for this precision sport.

Shooting at a target 70m away (roughly 230 feet), each Olympian needs to be strong and steady. And while they rely on their arrows to flow flawlessly towards the center of the target, their bows need to be finely constructed and tested.

Using Hoyt Archery bows, constructed of carbon fiber structures and tested in bend and compression, Team Hoyt made its way into the Olympic Games using the lightweight bows that reduce vibration and sound to extremely low levels. The team’s consistent success is a testament to talented shooters and reliable equipment. Read more

Cheers to Quality Sports and Quality Equipment

Thank you for tuning in during the London 2012 Summer Olympics. We hope these past few weeks have been fun and informative for you.

As the Olympics come to a close, we look forward to the upcoming Paralympic Games. The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has announced that a record number of tickets for the Paralympics have been sold:  2.1 million. The Games begin August 29, including sports such as wheelchair tennis, judo, and para-cycling. During this global competition, we will continue to show the importance of testing equipment for these top athletes. 

As always, continue to check the blog for other news, tips, and the opportunity to ask questions of our application engineers. Read more

Measuring Inflation Pressure in Sports Balls

Imagine what the media might say if a volleyball deflated in the middle of a serve or a basketball stopped bouncing when an Olympian was dribbling. For athletes relying on sports balls not to deflate, testing for maximum capacity is pertinent.

Dynamic tests measure energy lost and stored, and depending on the testing application, the operator can learn how material properties are affected by various levels of strain.

In one study, the relationship between over- and under-pressurization and energy loss at various levels of deformation was observed. An ElectroPuls™ E3000 and WaveMatrix™ dynamic testing software was used to cyclically compress entire balls at constant frequencies. Find out what happened during the study. Read more

GOAAALLLL: A Stadium That Can Hold Its Ground

As millions of spectaculars travel to London to see the Olympic Games, eyes focus on a key landmark, Wembley Stadium. The renovated arena opened its doors in 2007, becoming the home to concerts and sports competitions alike.

For construction of this iconic venue, the foundation required tons of concrete and rebar (reinforcement bar) to hold its weight. With Wembley’s deepest foundation at 35 meters (nearly 115 feet), visitors want to know that the compression strength of the steel used to hold the concrete can withstand the pressure of a victory or defeat. Normally, the strength of rebar is assessed with tensile and bend tests to various international standards including ASTM A370, A615, A996, BS449, and EN 10002-1, which should give the guests sitting in any of the 90,000 seats a bit of confidence in the strength of the structure. Read more

A Foundation for Success?

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Stirling Prize celebrates the best of new British architecture. Its 2012 shortlist, just released, appropriately features the Olympic Stadium as the new favorite for this prestigious award.

The 2012 London Games has aimed to create an impressive first-class venue for the global event with the hope to leave a lasting legacy and provide a sustainable facility for future use in the capital city. To ensure the sustainability of this venue, an incredible 5,000 units of reinforced concrete columns have been set to provide the foundations of the Stadium’s structure.

Concrete materials used in construction are tested to ASTM C78  to determine their flexural strength and tolerance for the long term. The SATEC™ Series 300DX testing system, fitted with flex fixtures and Partner™ software, can be used to test concrete materials to ASTM C78.

Learn more how to validate concrete structures here. Read more

Ensuring Olympic Sailboats Perform in Challenging Conditions

Sailing requires strategic maneuvers and a level of trust from the captain. The 2012 Olympic sailing events will take place in the open waters of Weymouth Bay and Portland Harbour, where the conditions are ever-changing. Therefore, the athletes must have complete confidence in their crafts.

To battle the waters, sailboat materials must have exceptional thermal tolerance, water resistance, and a high surface finish for the structural elements. Since resins and composites with resin matrices have these qualities, they are widely used in the nautical sector.

This creates a need for Heat Deflection Temperature (HDT) testing on resins and composites with resin matrices to meet two Standards: ISO 75 and/or ASTM D648. Read more

Matching the Endurance of Athletic Footwear to the Athlete

As we watch today’s Olympians achieve new records, setting new precedents, the inspired onlooker may give little thought to what shoes these pioneers are wearing. However, for some athletes, the durability of their footwear is essential to take them over the finish line.

As we learn here, the ElectroPuls system is able to simulate the impact and fatigue from forces more than ten times a person’s body weight. To measure comfort, the materials and structures in different sole designs are evaluated for their cushioning properties.

Watch the video below to see a test in process:

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