Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Artificial turf'

Soccer accounts for a third of the Swedish sports movement with 3 503 fields of both natural and artificial turf. The European Union will make a decision in 2021 on how to handle the issue of rubber performance infill. This infill can be found in artificial turf fields and are used for performance properties. The problem with this infill is the microplastics that spreads into the nature which is considered as toxic. Because of this the EU have decided to either ban or provide mandatory rules to reduce the spread of rubber performance infill. The north and the majority of Sweden’s climate is not adapted for play of soccer on natural turf according to FIFA, and EU want to ban or provide mandatory rules for artificial turfs. This action from the EU can perturb the entire Swedish sports movement since soccer accounts for a third of that movement. This study was therefore created to show if artificial turf fields are as bad for the environment as rumours has said compared with the natural turfs. To investigate this, a life cycle assessment (LCA) was performed regarding the global warming potential (GWP) and embodied water consumption for three different field types: an artificial turf field with recycled SBR, an artificial turf field with cork and a natural turf field. The result visualised that a natural turf field had the highest embodied water consumption and the highest impact on the GWP of a ten-year life cycle while the artificial turf field with recycled SBR had the least embodied water consumption and the least impact on the GWP. The findings of this LCA were that Sweden for the moment is dependent on artificial turf and the rubber performance infill, since the material properties are the best adapted to their climate. Therefore, a ban would be a risk for the Swedish sports movement. It was also revealed that natural turf fields in Sweden consumes at least 50 % municipal drinking water when irrigate. The high GWP impact came from the production of fertilisers (NPK). This report has shown how artificial turf and natural turf can work together in an industrial symbiosis by making the artificial turf field constructed to collect rainwater and use that water to irrigate the natural turf with.

Artificial surfaces are increasingly more common in a number of sports including football, rugby and hockey. Each specific sport has mechanical properties designed to suit the requirements of the sport which can be achieved through appropriate selection of surface specification, as well as the appropriate selection of footwear. In player-surface interactions, traction is a key system property that needs to be measured for comfort, performance and any potential injury risk. Many of the current industry tests used to measure traction are simplistic and have limitations when used in tests. The aim of the thesis was to make a contribution to knowledge with regard to the mobilisation of traction and apply this to the understanding of shoe-surface interactions. This was achieved by completing a number of objectives. These included reviewing current knowledge of player-surface interaction behaviour in relation to traction and obtaining relevant human boundary conditions for biofidelic mechanical test development. The mechanisms of traction were then investigated and the variables in the mobilisation of traction identified. The traction forces developed were quantified with appropriate measurement systems. Mechanical test equipment was then developed along with protocols to replicate the translational and rotational lower limb behaviour during sport specific behaviour. This included the standard FIFA rotational device being modified to include two sensors which record continuous data throughout a trial to allow for more than a peak torque value to be analysed. In addition, a piece of equipment to measure translational traction was developed and constructed to support the rotational traction device and help to understand the mobilisation of traction. The device pulled a tray containing a surface sample, with a shoe/plate placed on the sample. The horizontal force was measured, as well as the amount of stud penetration into the surface. It was also necessary to characterise the state of the surface and the effects that any changes may have on the traction that is mobilised. Testing completed involved repeated testing on both the rotational and translational to allow for comparison. Changes in the surface properties were made such as the number of fibres in a set area and the rubber infill density as well as shoe properties such as stud spacing, stud type and number of studs. In the results, the initial stiffness response of the surface was often focussed on as it was stated that this may be a better indicator of the mechanisms involved in the traction mobilised by subjects, compared to peak torque. This is due to actual foot rotation measured in subject testing being observed to be much smaller than the rotation/distance required to produce the peak force. The larger angles/displacements were also considered to help inform the mechanisms of traction. The final objective was to refine the mechanisms based on the experimental design. This all adds to the contribution of knowledge regarding the mobilisation of traction. A key outcome from the thesis is the effect the surface and shoe properties have on traction, therefore it is essential to state the specification when reporting results otherwise comparisons are not able to be made. The mechanism of traction has not previously been fully understood, with this thesis beginning to understand the details of how the change in surface or shoe properties affect how the surface reacts during shoe-surface interactions.

Artificial turf is increasingly becoming prevalent in field sports traditionally played on natural grass surfaces. However, current artificial turf test methods are not biomechanically representative. This study investigated the interaction between players and sports surfaces in order to develop a new biomechanically valid testing rig for the mechanical characterisation of artificial turf. A biomechanical analysis of thirteen sports players performing five running and turning movements on three types of artificial turf was conducted. Three-dimensional ground loadings (ground reaction forces (GRFs), free moment) and knee biomechanics (angles, moments) were measured. A subset of eight subjects who completed trials on all three tyes of surfaces were included in statistical analyses. There were no significant differences in ground loadings or knee biomechanics between the turfs. However, ground loadings and knee biomechanics varied significantly between movements, according to movemen t velocity and the degree of turn. Larger vertical GRFs, peak knee flexion, and sagittal knee moments were measured in faster movements. Larger horizontal GRFs, free moment, traction coefficient, peak fontal knee angle, frontal and transverse knee moment were measured in turning movements. Using two weighted pendulums, the Strathclyde Sports Turf Testing Rig (SSTTR) can apply simultaneous vertical, horizontal and rotational loads. Initial testing of the rig was conducted in situ on nine outdoor artificial turfs. Linear and rotational traction, and vertical, shear and torque loading was measured on each surface and compared with the biomechanical results. The SSTTR produced loads typical of a range of sports movement that are performed on artificial turf, indicating that the biomechanical validity of the SSTTR was broadly demonstrated in that it applies realistic biomechanical loads in a timely fashion. In summary, this study has generated new knowledge and further understanding regarding the three-dimensional biomechanical interaction of players and artificial turf. The biomechanically validated SSTTR is unique in terms of its ability to combine three load actions of different magnitudes which are truly representative of the loading that occur in a number of typical sporting movements.

På senare tid har mikroplaster i hav och sjöar uppmärksammats som ett potentiellt stortmiljöproblem. Idag finns mikroplaster spridda över hela världens vatten från polerna till ekvatorn.År 2016 uppmärksammades konstgräsplaner som den nästa största källan till spridning avmikroplaster till sjöar och vattendrag i Sverige [1]. Fotboll är Sveriges nationalsport och är densporten som står för flest aktivitetstimmar i Sverige. Konstgräs har gjort det möjligt för fler barnoch ungdomar att få fler speltimmar och idag spelar 90 % av alla fotbollsspelare på konstgräs [2].De olika spridningsvägarna för mikroplaster från konstgräsplaner undersöktes med fokus påspridningsvägen via dagvatten. Det finns fler olika reningsmetoder för dagvatten innehållandemikroplaster, en av dessa är granulatfällan, en filterpåse som placeras i en dagvattenbrunn för attfånga upp granulat och konstgräsfibrer som sprids från konstgräsplanen till dagvattenbrunnen.Syftet med denna studie var att optimera reningsmetoden granulatfälla utifrån möjligavattenflöden och dess effektivitet i att fånga upp mikroplaster. Detta undersöktes genomframtagandet av en vattenflödesmodell vid konstgräsplaner med variationer i konstruktion ochgenom fältstudier av granulatfällans effektivitet vid två konstgräsplaner i Storstockholm.Det regn som undersöktes i vattenflödesmodellen var extremregn för ett 10 års regn under 10minuter. Detta för att hitta det maximala flöde granulatfällorna kommer behöva klara av. Vilkavattenflöden som nådde dagvattenbrunnarna var beroende på antalet dagvattenbrunnarplacerade runt konstgräsplanen, i vilket område i Sverige som konstgräsplanen var placerad, detvill säga hur mycket regn som kom, och konstgräsplanens infiltrationsförmåga.Vattenflödesmodellen fungerar som en mall för möjliga vattenflöden vid en specifik plats i Sverigeoch en viss konstruktion av konstgräsplan.De konstgräsplaner som var med i fältstudierna var Skytteholms IP i Solna och Spånga IP iStockholm. Vid varje konstgräsplan placerades 6 granulatfällor med två filterpåsar på varje fälla,den inre med större maskor och den yttre med mindre maskor. Kombinationerna var 200 μm med100 μm, 200 μm med 50 μm och 100 μm med 50 μm. Totalt fångades 10,3 kg mikroplast vidSkytteholms IP och 1,5 kg vid Spånga IP under de 49 dygn granulatfällorna var utplacerade. Avden totala mängden mikroplast viktmässigt i varje granulatfälla fanns minst 99 % i den inrefilterpåsen och maximalt 1 % i den yttre filterpåsen, det vill säga i storleksfraktionen mellan denyttre och den inre filterpåsen.Slutsatserna från denna studie är att vattenflödet till dagvattenbrunnarna placerade runtkonstgräsplaner kan variera mycket på grund av hur konstgräsplanen är konstruerad. Det berorframförallt på konstgräsplanens infiltrationsförmåga och antal dagvattenbrunnar runtkonstgräsplanen. Utifrån de teoretiska vattenflödena och fältstudierna rekommenderas att enfilterpåse med maskstorlek 200 μm används i granulatfällan. Detta utifrån att den inre filterpåsenfångade minst 99 % av de mikroplaster som nådde granulatfällorna, som var större än 50 μm, ochökad risk för igensättning och tillväxt av biofilm på filterpåsarna med mindre maskor. Vidarestudier bör genomföras på granulatfällans vattenflöde över tid, mikroplaster mindre än 50 μm,IIandra spridningsvägar för mikroplaster från konstgräsplaner, förbättrade konstruktioner avkonstgräsplaner och förbättrat underhållningsarbete för att minska spridningen av mikroplasterfrån konstgräsplaner.
In the recent years microplastics in the marine environment has been recognized as a potentiallyimportant environmental issue. Today there are microplastics spread in the waterbodies all overthe world, from the equator to the poles in south and north. In 2016 artificial turf was labeled thesecond largest source of microplastics to the marine environment in Sweden [1]. Football is thenational sport of Sweden and accounts for the majority of the activity hours among the youth inSweden. The artificial turf has made it possible for more children to play football and for them toget more hours on the field. Today about 90 % of the football players play on artificial turf [2].The microplastics pathways to the nature and the marine environment were studied andtreatment methods were developed. One of these methods is the so called granule trap, a filterbag which is placed in a stormwater drainage well to catch the rubber granulates and the artificialturf fibers which can be spread from the artificial field to the drainage system. The aim of thisstudy was to optimize the granule trap for possible waterflows to the stormwater drainage welland its efficiency to catch microplastics. This was researched through field studies of the efficiencyof the granule trap at two artificial turfs in Stockholm and the development of a waterflow modelof an artificial turf with varying construction.The rainfall which was used in the waterflow model was the 10-year storm with a duration of 10minutes. This to find the maximum waterflow the granuletraps must manage. The waterflows tothe stormwater drainage well were dependent on the number of wells placed around the artificialturf, in which area of Sweden the football field was placed, in other words the amount of rain thatfell, and the infiltration capacity of the artificial turf. The waterflow model works as a templatefor possible waterflows at an artificial turf with a certain construction and at a certain location inSweden.The artificial turfs which were examined in the field studies were Skytteholms IP in Solna andSpånga IP in Stockholm. At each football field 6 granuletraps were placed, each loaded with twofilter bags, the inner with larger sized mesh and the outer with smaller sized mesh. The mesh sizecombinations were 200 μm with 100 μm, 200 μm with 50 μm and 100 μm with 50 μm. atSkytteholms IP a total amount of 10.3 kg microplastics were caught and at Spånga IP a total of 1.5kg microplastics were caught during the 49 days the granuletraps were placed at the footballfields. Out of the total amount of microplastics in each granuletrap at least 99 % by mass was inthe inner filter bag and maximum 1 % by mass was in the outer filter bag, in the size fractionbetween the outer and the inner filter bag..In conclusion this study shows that the waterflow to the stormwater drainage wells placed aroundthe artificial turfs vary a lot depending on the construction of the artificial turf. Foremost itdepends on the infiltration capacity of the artificial turf and the number of stormwater drainagewells around the field. With regards to the waterflows from the waterflow model and the resultsfrom the field studies the recommended mesh size for the filter bags is 200 μm. This since at least99 % by mass of the microplastics, which were larger than 50 μm, that reached the granule trapsIVwere trapped in the inner filter bag and the elevated risk of clogging and biofilm growth on thefilter bags with smaller mesh size. Further studies should be conducted on the waterflow throughthe granuletraps over time, microplastics smaller than 50 μm, other pathways for themicroplastics away from the artificial turf, improved constructions of artificial turfs and improvedmaintenance on the artificial turfs to reduce the risk of spreading of microplastics from artificialturfs.

Tredjegenerasjons kunstgress (3G kunstgress) er nå i utstrakt bruk både på breddenivå og profesjonelt nivå, og underlaget nyter status som godkjent for konkurranse av Det internasjonale fotballforbundet (FIFA). Ikke desto mindre, til tross for tilsvarende skadefrekvens som på naturgress, har det opprettholdt et rykte for dårlig støtdemping og utrygt friksjonsnivå. Den største bekymringen er at overdrevent stor, repetert belastning og friksjonskrefter utsetter utøvere for større skaderisiko. Både støtdemping og friksjon påvirkes ikke bare av egenskaper ved 3G kunstgress, men også av egenskaper ved fotballskoene som benyttes, der spesielt avlange knotter antas å forårsake høy friksjon. De mest brukte testmetodene innebærer bruk av mekaniske apparater som har til hensikt å gjenskape en idrettsspesifikk menneskelig bevegelse med antatt høy skaderisiko, enten gjennom å produsere et isolert sammenstøt eller en rotasjon, selv om utøvelsen av idrettene som oftest foregår på 3G kunstgress hovedsakelig innebærer lineære bevegelser. En følge av dette er at den nåværende kunnskapen om egenskaper ved 3G kunstgress nesten utelukkende er basert på tester med mekaniske apparater som, delvis grunnet en manglende evne til å tilpasse seg kontinuerlig, ikke betraktes som nøyaktige for å framstille interaksjonen mellom sko og underlag ved menneskelig bevegelse. Det overordnede målet med dette arbeidet var å tilføre utøver-basert biomekanisk data gjennom å undersøke støtdemping og lineær friksjon på forskjellige 3G kunstgressystemer (breddenivå, profesjonelt nivå med og uten underliggende støtdempingssjikt) og med vanlige fotballsko med forskjellige typer knotter (kunstgressknotter, tradisjonelle runde knotter, avlange knotter) ved standardisert menneskelig bevegelse. Sammenlignet med de to kunstgressystemene for profesjonelt nivå var støtdemping dårligere på kunstgressystemet for breddenivå. Generelt sett ble støtdemping påvirket i positiv forstand av både et underliggende støtdempingssjikt og en større mengde fyll i underlaget, men tilsynelatende i høyere grad av førstnevnte. Dette gjenspeilet seg i at kunstgressknotter ga mest støtdemping blant forskjellige typer knotter, muligens grunnet en større mengde sålemateriale. Friksjonskraft var størst på kunstgressystemet for profesjonelt nivå med underliggende støtdempingssjikt og med kunstgressknotter. Til tross for enkelte forskjeller i friksjonskraft forble imidlertid friksjonskoeffisienten tilnærmet identisk på tvers av alle kombinasjoner av sko og underlag, noe som antyder at forsøkspersonene justerte for uønskede friksjonsbetingelser. Det var ingen tegn på at avlange knotter produserte unormalt høy friksjon. Et positivt lineært forhold mellom friksjonskoeffisient og medial rotasjon av skoen i transversalplanet (i forhold til bevegelsesretning på underlaget) fantes, men den begrensede forskyvingen av knotter som forekommer under kontakt med underlaget gjør at bakgrunnen fortsatt er uklar. Selv om enkelte forskjeller mellom kunstgressystemer ble avdekket, antyder verken størrelsen på sammenstøt eller friksjon at ordentlig vedlikeholdt 3G kunstgress kan betraktes som et spesielt risikabelt underlag. Denne forestillingen styrkes av en skadefrekvens lik den som finnes på naturgress

The issue of skin friction related injuries has been one of the problems challenging the artificial sports turf industry. It has been identified by users as a major factor impeding acceptance of artificial turf at the professional level. However, information explaining the mechanisms for skin-turf abrasion is limited and little progress has been made, it appears, to derive an appropriate testing method for product approval or in evidence of improvement of the skin-friendliness of these products in sport surface surfaces. This research project focused on exploring the potential for improving the skin-friendliness of artificial turfs through a multi-faceted approach: identifying the contribution of the abrasive-components in modern artificial turf surfaces through mechanical testing; while critically evaluating currently available skin friction standards , evaluating strategies for polymer material modifications to reduce the skin-surface friction; and the designing of an appropriate bench-top set-up for the lab-based assessment of material skin-friendliness. The lack of understanding of skin-turf interaction was addressed by identifying the turf-component that has the greatest influence on the skin-turf friction with the mechanical device used in the current industry standard. The skin -turf frictional profiles of a series of third generation (3G) turf surfaces were examined, in combination with independent measurements of the silicone skin surface roughness pre- and post-friction testing. Results indicated that turf carpets without any infill material exhibited the highest frictional values while surfaces completely filled with either sand or rubber displayed similarly low frictional values, independent of infill type. Morphological measurements also showed the largest decrease in surface roughness for skin samples tested on carpet-only surfaces, indicating a smoothening effect via abrasion. This abrading effect is alleviated with the addition of infill to the surface, with fully-filled surfaces having the least damage to the skin s. This unprecedented study suggests that the carpet may have the largest influence on the overall frictional behaviour of an artificial turf surface narrowing down the turf component to be targeted when applying product improvements to address skin-friendly properties. The strategy of material surface modification was then employed, to study the effect of polyzwitterionic brushes on improving the skin-friendliness of the identified polypropylene substrate. To address the intended application for artificial turfs, a bench-top test was developed to investigate the frictional properties of the hydrated samples outside of commonly used aqueous environments, where an excess of lubricating water molecules is absent. Photo-grafted poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (pSBMA) brushes of various irradiation durations were prepared and the improvement in frictional properties was studied. Frictional measurements using silicone skin tips, under both dry and hydrated surface conditions, showed that the applied modification was capable of forming a stable lubrication layer in the absence of excess water, significantly reducing the coefficient of friction by up to 78.8 %. The pSBMA brushes also provided the additional advantage of antifouling exhibiting resistance towards pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus with almost zero surface colonization for well-grafted samples. The low skin -sample friction under ambient conditions and desirable fouling-resistance highlights the potential of pSBMA brushes as a modification strategy for achieving skin-friendly surfaces targeted at reducing the risk of skin abrasions. The tribological implications of counter-surface selection were investigated. Frictional assessments of the pSBMA-modified samples were carried out using standard steel tribo-tips, in addition to the skin tips used. Measurements with the skin tips showed that the hydrated pSBMA brushes were successful in reducing initial skin -sample friction though the effect diminishes with extended testing, attributed to the drying of the interfacial water. The standard steel tribo-tips were unable to reciprocate these results, returning consistently low frictional values regardless of extent of surface modification or hydration. These observations draw attention to the importance of counter-surface selection in frictional assessments, highlighting how appropriate test materials can identify characteristic surface properties while providing an interaction that simulates that of the intended application. The simple experimental set-up used may potentially be enhanced as an intermediate product qualification method in the manufacturing of skin-friendly artificial turf yarns.

This study aimed to extend the knowledge on player and surface loading by contributing new data in relation to a greater range of movements, relevant in-game scenarios and on carefully controlled third generation artificial turf surfaces. This was done by selecting soccer relevant movements and in-game scenarios for a player movement study with the help of a player focus group and questionnaire. Furthermore, four surfaces were created with surface hardness and rotational traction values at the upper and lower limits of the standards set by FIFA. The study showed that both the surface hardness and rotational traction properties can affect the human movement dynamics, though these effects were mainly present during the stop and turn manoeuvre. During the stop and turn manoeuvre the soft and high traction surfaces conditions led to increased frontal plane moments as well as increased average ground reaction forces during mid-stance. In combination with decreased ground contact times it appeared that the players were able to decelerate / accelerate faster and generate a larger force on the soft and high traction surfaces. During peak push off it appeared that the players were able to generate a larger force on the hard surfaces, which also led to a significant increase in plantar flexion moment. While some parameters showed an effect for surface hardness and / or rotational traction across all four surface conditions, for others such as the knee valgus, hip extension and hip internal rotation moment showed only a significant effect between two of the four surfaces. At the same time the other surfaces showed either no effect or the opposite effect. This suggests that the effects of the surface hardness can be influenced by the rotational traction properties, and vice versa. Regarding the jumping / heading manoeuvre the effects of the surface conditions were limited. This may have been related to the high demands of the movement, or to limitations of the mechanical measurement methods. In addition to the effects of surface properties on human movement dynamics the study also showed that the mechanical measurement methods may not be representative of the human loading. The impact force conditions of the advanced artificial athlete were substantially different to that of the stop and turn and jumping / heading manoeuvre. Whereas for the rotational traction test the study showed that the rotation of the foot during the ST was substantially less than the minimum 45° required by the FIFA guidelines. Regarding the inclusion of in-game scenarios the study showed that both the simulated opponent used for the stop and turn manoeuvre, and heading a ball during a maximal vertical stop jump manoeuvre can affect the human movement dynamics. During the stop and turn with a simulated opponent the frontal plane moments in the lower limbs were significantly increased. However, this increase in joint loading could not be related to any changes in movement strategy. During the landing after heading a ball during a maximal vertical stop jump the players used a different landing strategy by landing in a more upright position and increasing the ankle plantar flexion ankle just before lading. This allowed for a larger change in the ankle plantar / dorsi flexion angle to absorb the impact of the landing. In addition to this, the heading manoeuvre also led to a significant increase in the frontal plane joint moments of the lower limbs. For future studies it is recommended that a combination of surface properties is used to gain insight into how these affect each other regarding the effects they have on human movement dynamics. In addition, they should provide detailed information on the surface design as well as the properties. Regarding the quantification of the properties it is recommended that in addition to industry standards the surfaces are also quantified using conditions closer to those expected within the study. It is also recommended that future studies incorporate in-game scenarios in order to gain more insight into the effects of interventions that simulate actual match situations.

In Sweden exist about 1200 artificial turfs. Artificial turfs contain a layer of rubber granulates, which counts as microplastics and can emit to the environment. The emitted amount is uncertain but estimated to 475 tons/year. According to Swedish environmental code, artificial turfs can be classified as an environmental hazardous activity and the operators have a responsibility to reduce emissions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the work being done to reduce microplastic emissions from artificial turfs operated by Sweden’s municipalities and how it relates to the general rules of consideration in the environmental code. A web-survey was sent to all municipalities in Sweden. The result indicated that there is a high level of awareness of the problem among the municipalities. 68% have identified pathways for rubber granulates from the artificial turfs to the environment. Most common identified pathways were players, via stormwater and snow clearance. 87% have taken protective measures to reduce emissions. Most common measures taken were hard surface around the turf, granulate traps/filter in stormwater wells and collection areas for snow. Some municipalities are also testing and investigating alternative infill material. A majority were aware of the Swedish environmental protection agency’s guidance. The general rules of consideration were applicable to reduce emissions of microplastic. The reuse of rubber granulates when refilling the turfs and the investigation for alternative infill material could increase. Knowledge and insight among the operators, players and maintenance are key factors to limit the emissions along with proper protective measures.

This research project has investigated the mechanical behaviour of artificial turf surface systems used for sports under a range of real player movements, and the contribution of component layers to the overall system response by developing advanced measurement systems and methods. Artificial turf surface systems are comprised of a number of different materials and commonly with several layers, all of which contribute to their composite behaviour. During sports movements a player loads the surface, resulting in deformation that can change the surface behaviour, which in turn modifies the player biomechanical response. Improving the understanding of surface response to actual player loading is important for developing enhanced products for improving play performance. Likewise, by improving knowledge of surface effects on players, the understanding of injury risk can be improved. However, there is currently no published research to measure and analyse the behaviour of artificial turf system during real player locomotion. This research was undertaken to address this current lack of knowledge within the interaction between player and sports surface regarding the effects of player loading on the mechanical behaviour of artificial turf systems. In addition to support player loading regime, mechanical behaviour of hockey and third generation artificial turf surface systems and their component shockpad layers (a rubber shreds bonded shockpad and a polyurethane foam shockpad) was examined through dynamic cyclic compressive loading using an advanced material testing machine in laboratory environment. Each layer and carpet-shockpad system was subjected to controlled loading designed with previous biomechanical data at various loading frequencies (0.9 Hz, 3.3 Hz and 10 Hz) and under two different contact areas (50 mm and 125 mm diameter) to simulate aspects of player walking, running and sprinting. All layers and surface systems tested showed nonlinear stress-strain behaviour with hysteresis. Increasing the contact area resulted in reduced surface vertical deflection and more linear response. Increasing the loading frequency led to stiffer response in the lower stress range (< 400 kPa) for all surface systems. The third generation artificial turf systems showed also an increase in stiffness at higher stress range ( > 600 kPa) and a decrease in maximum strain as the loading frequency increased. Hysteresis loops obtained at different loading frequencies indicated that the amount of energy lost at the same peak load of 1900 N in each surface system decreased with an increase in loading rate. Player loading regime was performed to quantify the load/stress and the resulting surface deformation/strain under subject loading. Measurement systems including motion capture system, force plate and high speed were developed to characterise the response behaviour in a novel way. The mechanical behaviour of artificial turf surface systems under three player movement patterns (heel-toe walking, forefoot running and forefoot single leg landing) was measured. Boot-surface contact area of each movement varied during the stance. The heel-toe walking results indicated that the maximum applied stress and surface strain occurred in very early stance (first 10%) when the boot-surface contact area was small. For forefoot running and landing, the peak surface strain occurred around mid-stance concurrent with the time of peak applied stress. The maximum strain measured under running was smaller than under landing. A thin-film pressure sensing mat was used in both mechanical and player loading regimes and proved to be a useful tool for evaluating the pressure distributions and contact areas at different interfaces of the surface system. The applied stress on surface was observed to greatly reduce with depth over increasing contact area through the surface systems. Although the average pressure was reduced, pressure distribution contour showed directly under the surface load area the pressure at depth was still relatively large and that outside of this area the pressure was much lower. A comparison of the mechanical behaviour of artificial turf systems in terms of compressive strain, modulus of elasticity, stress distribution and energy loss under mechanical and player loading was evaluated. Key loading parameters in different loading regimes and their influence on surface system response were determined. The structure and material intrinsic properties of shockpad were considered to further explain the observed surface system behaviour. Two mathematical models were used to fit through the experimental data and found to be able to describe the loading behaviour. A breakthrough in understanding of the effects of real player loading on the mechanical behaviour response of artificial turf systems, and the contribution of the components to the whole system response has been achieved through the development of advanced measurement techniques.

Mikroplaster är ännu ett relativt outforskat område, dess risker för miljö och för människans hälsa är fortfarande till en del okänt. Det finns även relativt lite studier kring spridning av mikroplaster på land, därtill är nedbrytningstiden för plast väldigt lång i naturliga miljöer. Konstgräsplaner är en av de största källorna för spridning av mikroplaster i Sverige, och sker främst i form av granulat som sprids från konstgräsplanerna. I Huddinge kommun, som arbetet har undersökt, finns sju stycken 11-mannaplaner vilka har EPDM-granulat.   Syftet med rapporten är att undersöka konstgräsplaner i Huddinge kommun och identifiera samt kartlägga spridning av granulat från dessa. Vad som har undersökts är typ av plast som används, vilken mängd som potentiellt sprids och hur plasten sprider sig.   Metoden som har använts är en materialflödesanalys, där inflöde samt utflöde har identifierats samt kvantifierats. Modellens inre systemgräns utgörs av fotbollsplanen och den yttre gränsen består av planens direkt närliggande omgivning, vilket innefattar marken intill planen, omklädningsrum och klubbhus. Systemgränsen har tillämpats på samtliga sju planer. Som underlag för materialflödesanalysen har litteraturstudie och intervjuer genomförts. Tre fältstudier har genomförts, vilka var inventering av område, mätning av granulat i undanröjd snö samt spridning från aktivitet på plan. Utifrån dessa kunde en riskmatris sammanställas, vilken presenterar de potentiella riskerna för de enskilda planerna i olika avseenden.   Utifrån riskmatrisen har det konstaterats Källbrinks IP har högst potentiell risk för spridning, och Stuvsta IP har lägst potentiell risk för spridning. Totalt för Huddinge kommun beräknas det årliga inflödet vara 3–4 ton granulat och utflödet vara 5,6–7,2 ton. De utflöden som var möjliga att kvantifiera var aktivitet på plan, snöröjning och spridning till omgivande miljö där snöröjning var det största enskilda utflöde med 2–3 ton årligen som sprids och ej kan återanvändas. Resultaten pekade på att det finns en skillnad i potentiell risk för spridning av granulat mellan de enskilda planerna. Rekommenderade åtgärder är främst att se över uppsamlingsplats för röjd snö och utvärdera risken för spridning till vatten ytterligare.
Microplastics are a relatively unexplored subject, its environmental and health risks are still partly unknown. There are relatively few studies regarding microplastics on land, and also the degradation of plastics in nature takes place during a long time.   Artificial turfs are one of the biggest sources of microplastics in Sweden, mainly in the form of granulates which spreads from artificial turfs. In Huddinge municipal, which is the location of the study, there are seven football fields which use EPDM granulate.   The purpose of the study is to examine the artificial turfs in Huddinge municipal, to identify and map how granulate is spread from these. The study includes type of plastic which is used, the amount which has potential to spread and how the plastic is spread.   The method used in the study is a material flow analysis, which identifies and quantifies the inflow and outflow. The inner system boundary of the model consists of the field, and the outer system boundary consists of the fields surroundings, which contains the ground next to the field, the dressing room and the club house. The system boundaries have been applied to all seven football fields. The material flow analysis is based on a literature study and interviews. Three field studies have been performed; inventory of the area, measurements of granulate in cleared snow and granulate spread from field activities. On this basis could a risk matrix be conducted, which presents the potential risks for the different fields in different aspects.   Based on the risk matrix it has been found that Källbrinks IP has the highest potential risk of granulate being spread, and Stuvsta IP has the lowest potential risk. In total for Huddinge municipal the yearly inflow is calculated to 3-4 tonnes granulate and the outflow is 5,6-7,2 tonnes. Outflows that were possible to quantify was field activity, snow clearance and granulate spread to surrounding areas. Snow clearance was the biggest single outflow with 2-3 tonnes granulate which is spread and cannot be reused.   The results indicate that there is a difference between the individual fields based on the potential risk of granulate being spread. Recommended measures are mainly to review collection sites for cleared snow and further evaluate the risk of spread to water.

Mikroplaster och dess miljöeffekter är ett forskningsområde under utveckling. Provtagning och analysmetoder försvåras av att mikroplaster kan komma från olika råvaror, vilket innebär att dess innehåll, partikelstorlek samt densitet kan variera. Det är däremot tydligt att mikroplaster är ett problem i marina miljöer då intag och ackumulering av mikro- och makroplaster har registrerats i ryggradslösa djur, fiskar, däggdjur och fåglar. Mikroplaster kan påverka bland annat matsmältningen och reproduktionen för vattenlevande djur. Mikroplaster har även registrerats i föda som är relevant för människor, men vilka effekter mikroplaster har på människor är ännu oklart. I en rapport från år 2017 uppskattade Svenska Miljöinstitutet (IVL) konstgräsplaner till att vara den näst största kvantifierade källan till spridning av mikroplaster till miljön med 1638 – 2456 ton per år, efter slitage från däck och vägar. Fotboll är en av Sveriges populäraste sporter och antalet konstgräsplaner i landet uppgick år 2016 till 1336 stycken. Till följd av att konstgräsplaner anses som en viktig källa till spridning av mikroplaster är det viktigt att utröna orsakerna till hur och varför mikroplaster sprids från konstgräsplaner och även vilka åtgärder som kan sättas in för att minska spridningen. Syftet med denna studie är att identifiera orsakerna till spridning av mikroplaster samt att presentera åtgärder som kan minska den totala spridningen av mikroplaster från konstgräsplaner. Metodiken utgick från tidigare studier av mikroplaster i vattenmiljö och vattenprover inhämtades från två konstgräsplaners dräneringsbrunnar och från en konstgräsplans lysimetrar, vilka har samlat upp vatten som har infiltrerat genom planen. Utöver detta har även fältstudier med observationer utförts vid två konstgräsplaner och samtal med driftsansvariga har bidragit med ytterligare relevant information om hur mikroplaster kan spridas. Resultaten visar att mikroplaster sprids från konstgräsplaner och att de identifierade orsakerna till spridningen, utan inbördes storleksordning, främst är: Aktivitet på planen Borstning av planen Snöröjning Regn (vilket innebär infiltration genom planen samt ytavrinning) Dessa orsaker, samt möjliga spridningsvägar för mikroplaster från en konstgräsplan till omgivningen, har visualiserats i en konceptuell modell, figur 11. Modellen har två systemgränser; det inre systemet utgörs av själva konstgräsplanen, medan det yttre systemet utgörs av närområdet runt omkring planen och kan likställas med idrottsanläggningen. Det är endast mikroplaster som sprids från det yttre systemet ut till omgivningen som bedöms kunna ha ekologiska konsekvenser. Okulära mikroskopstudier av vattenprover från dräneringsbrunnar visade på förekomst av mikroplaster. Kvantifiering av mängden fast material som kan nå dräneringsbrunnar, där mikroplaster utgör en okänd andel, uppgick till maximalt 340 – 370 kg per år och konstgräsplan med måtten 105m×65m. Mängden mikroplaster som maximalt kan infiltreras genom en konstgräsplan ner till dess dränering kvantifierades till 0,003 kg per år och konstgräsplan med måtten 105m×65m. Detta indikerar att det kan krävas mer öppna transportvägar, exempelvis öppna brunnar, för att mikroplaster ska kunna nå dräneringsbrunnar i en större viktmässig omfattning. Kvantifieringen av övriga orsaker till spridning av mikroplaster från konstgräsplaner till omgivningen är osäker, men försiktiga uppskattningar visar på att de är viktmässigt omfattande. För att mäta och säkerställa antalet partiklar som sprids från konstgräsplaner skulle mer omfattande provtagningar och analyser behöva genomföras. Konkreta åtgärder som kan tillämpas för att minska den totala spridningen av mikroplaster från konstgräsplaner är att borsta av kläder och skor innan planen eller anläggningen lämnas, informera personer som uppehåller sig vid planerna om problematiken, täcka för brunnar vid driftsaktiviteter, strategisk hantering av snöröjning, återföra granulat från anläggningen till själva planen, installera filter i brunnar samt att tömma brunnar på vatten och material. För att sätta problemet med mikroplaster från konstgräsplaner i sitt sammanhang så är det viktigt att förstå problemet i sin helhet. Vidare studier föreslås fokusera på att kvantifiera ovan nämnda orsaker till spridning av mikroplaster från konstgräsplaner, samt att kartlägga och kvantifiera spridningen utifrån de olika spridningsvägarna.
Microplastics and its environmental impacts is a research area under development. Sampling and analysis methods are complicated by the fact that microplastics may come from different raw materials, which means that its content, particle size and density may vary. It is clear that microplastics is a problem in marine environments as intake and accumulation of micro- and macroplastics have been recorded in invertebrates, fish, mammals and birds. The microplastics may affect, among other things, the digestion and reproduction of aquatic animals. The microplastics have also been recorded in foods that are relevant to humans, but what effects microplastics have on humans is still unclear. In a report from 2017, the Swedish Environmental Research Institute (IVL) estimated artificial turf fields to be the second largest quantified source for spreading the microplastics to the environment with 1638 - 2456 tons per year, after wear of tire and roads. Football is one of Sweden's most popular sports and the number of artificial turf fields in the country in 2016 reached 1336. Due to the fact that artificial turf fields is considered an important reason for the spreading of microplastics, it becomes important to investigate the reasons why and how microplastics are spread from artificial turf fields and also what measures can be taken to reduce the spread. The purpose of this study is to identify the reasons why microplastics are spread, as well as to present measures that can reduce the overall spread of microplastics from artificial turf fields. The methodology is based on previous studies of microplastics in aquatic environments and water samples were collected from drainage wells that belonged to two artificial turf fields and from a “water-infiltration-sampler” from a third field. In addition, field studies with observations have been carried out at two other artificial turf fields, and conversations with maintenance personal have provided additional relevant information on how microplastics can be spread. The results show that microplastics are spread from artificial turf fields and the identified reasons for this spreading, without specific order of magnitude, are mainly: Activity on the field Brushing of the fields Snow plowing of the fields Rain (which means infiltration through the field as well as surface runoff) These causes, as well as possible pathways for the spreading of microplastics from an artificial turf field to the surroundings, have been visualized in a conceptual model, Figure 11. The model has two system boundaries; the inner system consists of the field itself, while the outer system is the direct area around the field and can be equated with the sports facility. It is only microplastics that are spread from the outer system to the environment which is considered to cause ecological consequences. Ocular microscopy studies of water samples from drainage wells showed presence of microplastics. Quantification of the amount of solids that can reach the drainage wells, where microplastics constitute an unknown proportion, amounted to a maximum of 340 – 370 kg per year and artificial turf field measuring 105m×65m. The maximum amount of microplastics that can infiltrate through an artificial turf field down to its drainage system was quantified to 0,003 kg per year and artificial turf of 105m×65m. This indicates that more open transport routes, such as open wells, could be needed to allow microplastics to reach drainage wells to a greater extent. The quantification of other causes for the spreading of microplastics from artificial turf fields to the environment area is uncertain, but careful estimations show that they are weighty comprehensive. To measure and secure the number of particles that are spread from artificial turf fields, more extensive sampling and analysis would have to be carried out.

This thesis includes four papers based on three different prospective cohort studies on injury characteristics in men’s professional football. The same general methodology was used in all papers. Time-loss injuries and player individual exposure was registered for match and training separately. The general aim was to investigate potential internal and external risk factors for injury, with a focus on age, playing position, time in professional football, playing surface (artificial turf and natural grass), changes between surfaces and climate; and to evaluate the study methodology. Paper I was based on data collected between 2001 and 2010 from 26 top professional clubs in Europe; the UCL injury study. In total, 6140 injuries and 797 389 hours of exposure were registered. A decreased general injury rate was observed for newcomers compared with established players (hazard ratio (HR), 0.77; 95% CI 0.61-0.99). Using goalkeepers as a reference, all outfield playing positions had significantly higher age-adjusted injury rates. Using players aged ≤ 21 years as a reference, the overall adjusted injury rate increased with age, with a peak injury rate among players aged 29 to 30  years (HR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.24-1.68). Paper II and Paper III are based on data collected during two consecutive seasons, 2010 and 2011, in the Swedish and Norwegian male first leagues. In total, 2186 injuries and 367 490 hours of football exposure were recorded. No statistically significant differences were found in acute injury rates on artificial turf (AT) compared with natural grass (NG) during match play (rate ratio, 0.98, 99% CI 0.79-1.22) or training (rate ratio 1.14, 99% CI 0.86-1.50) when analysing at the individual player level. However, when analysing at the club level, clubs with AT installed at their home arena had a significantly higher acute training injury rate (rate ratio 1.31, 99% CI 1.04-1.63) and overuse injury rate (rate ratio 1.38, 99% CI 1.14-1.65) compared to clubs with NG installed at their home venue. No association was found between frequent surface shifts and subsequent overuse injury risk (risk ratio 1.01, 95% CI 0.91-1.12). Analyses on the total cohort showed no difference in injury rates between clubs in the two climate zones (total rate ratio 1.01, 95% CI 0.92-1.10). Data included in Paper IV were collected during two consecutive seasons 2008 and 2009. During this period, two Norwegian elite football clubs were concurrently included in two research groups’ surveillance systems. The capture rate for match injuries was similar between the two audits, while the capture rate for training injuries was slightly higher with individual-based exposure recording. The inter-rater agreement in injury variable categorisations was in most aspects very high.

Konstgräs används i stor utsträckning och dess miljöpåverkan är omdebatterad. Oro finns över spridning av mikroplaster och dess miljöpåverkan. Flera studier på spridning av större mikroplast finns, medan spridning av luftburna partiklar är mindre väl utforskat. Studier på detta är till sin natur svåra då tester i fält försvåras av förekomsten av mätbrus i form av partiklar från trafik etc. Detta arbete syftar till att i kontrollerad miljö, genom att använda en Brittisk pendelrigg, undersöka bildandet av luftburna partiklar vid yttre påverkan på konstgräs. Skillnaden mellan olika konstgrässystem studeras, i detta fall olika typer av granulat, s.k. infill. Tester körs med de tre vanligaste granulattyperna, SBR, TPE samt EPDM. I dessa tester kan skillnad påvisas mellan EPDM gentemot de andra två typerna, där EPDM ger upphov till fler luftburna partiklar.
Artificial turf is today widely used, and its environmental impact is much-debated. There are some concerns regarding the spread of microplastics and their environmental impact. Some studies regarding the spread of larger particles exist, while the impact in the form of airborne particles is less well explored. Studies on airborne particulates are quite complicated, as measuring these is made complicated by the already existing particles from traffic and such. In this study a British pendulum is utilized to, in a controlled environment, try to ascertain if a difference may exist between different types of turf. In this study the three most commonly used types of rubber granules, infill, are tested. These are SBR, TPE and EPDM. These tests show a difference in release of airborne particle between EPDM and the other two types, where EPDM generate more airborne particles.

Material av plast är praktiska och användbara, vilket medför att de återfinns i många produkter som används i vardagen. På grund av dess egenskaper har framställning av produkter och användning av plast ökat sedan massproduktionen av plast började. Mikroplast definieras som plastobjekt med en storlek mindre än 5 millimeter. Eftersom att material av plast förekommer i många produkter så har det lett till en spridning av mikroplast som påträffas på flertalet platser i naturen runtom i världen. Svenska Miljöinstitutet, IVL, har granskat kartlagda uppkomstkällor till och spridningen av mikroplaster i Sverige. De två största landbaserade källorna till mikroplast är slitage av vägbanor och däck respektive mikroplast från konstgräsplaner. Utifrån kartläggningen sker spridning vidare till omgivningen och därför är det angeläget att undersöka belastningen som kan förekomma i dagvattnet från dessa källor. I den här studien har mängden mikroplast undersökts med en minsta storleksfraktion på 100 mikrometer i dagvatten från trafikvägen Bolandsgatan och konstgräsplanen Stenhagens IP i Uppsala. Provtagning utfördes på dagvatten i dagvattenbrunnar genom att ta stickprov och med en provtagare som möjliggjorde flödesproportionell provtagning. Insamlade prover filtrerades där mikroplast sedan analyserades visuellt i stereomikroskop. Analysen av mikroplast kombinerades även med ett smälttest. I undersökningen av den trafikerade vägen Bolandsgatan var 98 % av alla partiklar svarta. De svarta partiklarna kategoriserades som mikroplast som har uppkommit i samband med slitage av vägtrafik. Vid undersökning av konstgräsplanen Stenhagens IP påträffades ett gräsfragment som kategoriserades som mikroplast från konstgräsplanen.  Mikroplastmängden i dagvatten från den trafikerade vägen Bolandsgatan erhölls till 33 kg/år. Emissionsfaktorn för blandad trafik beräknades till 2,2∙10-5 kg/fordonskm. Emissionsfaktor för mikroplast från däck, som beräknats utifrån mätningar i dagvatten från vägtrafik, har inte presenterats i tidigare studier. Från vägtrafiken i Uppsala kommun och Sverige erhölls mängden till 27 000 kg/år respektive 1,5∙106 kg/år. Från konstgräsplanen Stenhagens IP var mängden mikroplast 6,3∙10-2 kg/år. Från konstgräsplaner i Uppsala kommun och Sverige erhölls mängden till 0,56 kg/år respektive 48 kg/år. Vid beräkning av mikroplastmängder finns det en osäkerhet i bestämningen av volymen, ökar partikelradien med en faktor 2 så ökar volymen 8 gånger. Enligt den här studien är mikroplastmängder från vägtrafik i Sverige ungefär 5 gånger mindre än Naturvårdsverkets uppskattning, mängder från konstgräsplaner i Sverige är ungefär 30-50 gånger mindre än Naturvårdsverkets resultat.
Materials made from plastic are practical and durable, therefore plastic is found in many every day products. Because of the properties of plastics, the manufacturing of products and usage of the material has increased consequently leading to the creations of microplastics in varying sizes. The definition of microplastics is plastic materials with a size smaller than 5 millimeters. Because of a huge prevalence in products the consequence is microplastics being found on many places in nature around the world. The Swedish Environmental Research Institute, IVL, has been assigned by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency to review identified origins and the pathways of microplastics in Sweden. According to the study the largest source of microplastics from outdoor activities on land is from road wear and the abrasion of tyres followed by artificial turfs. Since microplastics are presumed to be spread to the environment, it is of concern to investigate potential microplastic load in storm water from these sources. The investigation of microplastic amounts has been studied in sizes ≥100 micrometres in storm water from the traffic road Bolandsgatan and the artificial turf Stenhagens IP in Uppsala. Samples were collected, using random sampling and with an automatic sampler enabling flow proportional sampling. Filtration of collected water samples were carried out followed by analysing microplastic visually in a stereo microscope. The analyses of microplastics were also combined with a melting test. In the study of the traffic road Bolandsgatan 98 % of all particles were black colored. The black colored particles were identified as microplastic originated from road wear. When studying the artificial turf Stenhagens IP a grass fragment was identified as microplastic originated from the artifical turf. Microplastic amounts from the traffic road Bolandsgatan are 33 kg/year. The emission factor for mixed fleet is 2.2∙10-5 kg/vehicle km. An emission factor for microplastic from road traffic has not been presented in other studies before. The amount of microplastics from road traffic in Uppsala was estimated to 27 000 kg/year and in Sweden to 1.5∙106 kg/year. From the artificial turf Stenhagens IP the amount was 6.3∙10-2 kg/year. By upscaling the amounts of microplastics from artificial turfs in Uppsala and Sweden the amounts were estimated to 0.56 and 48 kg/year, respectively. According to this study, the spread of microplastic from road traffic in Sweden is 5 times less than the estimated value and the amount from artificial turfs is 30-50 times less compared to the investigation by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.

Idrott är en stor bidragande faktor till social hållbarhet i Sverige, bland annat genom att främja folkhälsa, aktivera unga som gamla samt skapa gemenskap och sysselsättning. Enbart fotbollen aktiverar över 850 000 människor årligen i Sverige. En av anledningarna som möjliggör den höga aktiviteten är att en stor del av fotbollen sker på konstgräs. Konstgräs gör det möjligt att spela året om och ökar tillgängligheten. Dock beräknas konstgräsplaner vara den näst största källan till utsläpp av mikroplaster i Sverige. Därför har denna uppsats undersökt vilka barriärer som utgör de största hindren för aktörer i Lunds kommun att minska spridningen av gummigranulat från sina verksamheter. Den använda metoden har varit kvalitativa intervjuer med aktörer inom kommunen och föreningslivet, och en analys av materialet har gjorts utifrån Stephen Trudgills (1990) barriärer för arbete med miljöfrågor. Teorin utgår från att sex barriärer som behöver överkommas för att gå från problem till lösning, dessa barriärer är; enighet, kunskap, teknik, ekonomi, socialt, politisk. Utifrån intervjuerna var samtliga intervjupersoner tydliga med att konstgräs är viktigt för deras verksamheter och de var eniga om att det finns en situation med granulatspridning men det fanns tveksamheter kring problemställningen och omfattningen av problemet som grundades i osäker kunskap samt att befintlig kunskap inte kommuniceras ut bra nog. De presenterade en stor mängd tekniska lösningar som finns att tillgå men alternativen måste utvärderas i fråga om ekologisk och social lämplighet. Samtliga intervjupersoner såg ekonomi som en avgörande barriär och det finns potential att nyttja ekonomiska incitament mer för att påverka verksamheterna. Frågan om ansvar för granulatspridningen bör specificeras samtidigt som intervjupersonerna tryckte på vikten av samarbete och de visade en öppenhet för att dela med sig av erfarenheter och kunskap. Det uttrycktes behov av tydliga riktlinjer från beslutsfattare som stöd i den operativa verksamheten gällande hanteringen av konstgräsplaner. Det behövs dessutom mer forskning, gällande mikroplaster i allmänhet och konstgräs i synnerhet.
Sports are a big contributing factor to social sustainability in Sweden. It promotes public health, activates the population and creates community. Soccer alone activates over 850 000 people each year in Sweden. One of the reasons for the high activity is that a big part of soccer is played on artificial turf fields. Artificial turf makes it possible to play all year round and increases the accessibility. Artificial turf is however, calculated to be the second largest source of micro plastic emissions in Sweden. This essay has therefore studied what barriers constitute the biggest obstacles for stakeholders in the municipality of Lund to limit the emissions of granulates from the artificial turfs. The used method was qualitative interviews with participants from the municipality and soccer teams, and an analysis of the material was made based on a theory of barriers for working with environmental issues by Stephen Trudgill (1990). The theory consists of six barriers needed to go from problem to solution and the barriers are; agreement, knowledge, technology, economy, social and political. Based on the interviews the interviewees were all in agreement about the importance of artificial turf for their businesses and they were all aware of a situation with emissions of granulates, but there was doubt about the problem and the extent of the problem, which was based on lack of knowledge and poorly communicated knowledge. They presented plenty of technological solutions but these alternatives must be evaluated considering their ecological and social appropriateness. All interviewees considered economy to be an important barrier and there is potential to further use economic incitements. The question of responsibility needs to be specified, but the interviewees also highlighted the need for cooperation and showed an openness towards sharing experiences and knowledge. There was expressed opinions about the need for more political directives to support operative decisions. In addition, more research is needed, regarding micro plastics in general and artificial turf in particular.

Konstgräsplaner kan beaktas som en betydande utsläppskälla av mikroplaster. Fyllnadsmaterialet som används på konstgräsplaner kallas granulat och går under definitionen mikroplast. De som används främst på den svenska marknaden är SBR, TPE, EPDM och R-EPDM. Granulatet sprids främst via dagvattnet från konstgräsplaner som då riskerar att hamna i närliggande vattendrag. Tidigare studier har påvisat att granulatet kan urlaka toxiska ämnen som riskerar att förorena vattendragen. Vattenlevande organismer kan misstolka små partiklar som föda, vilket kan ge konsekvenser som bland annat förstoppning och svält. Ämnena som kan urlaka tillhör samlingsnamnet miljögifter och är stabila, toxiska, reproduktionsstörande och ackumulerande. Syftet med denna studie är att ge en beskrivning av vilka fyllnadsmaterial som används på konstgräsplaner i Gävle och undersöka hur dessa partiklar kan spridas samt identifiera åtgärdsförslag för att minska spridningen. Syftet är också att redovisa konstgräsplanernas dagvattenutlopp och vattendragens status för att redogöra för den potentiella miljöpåverkan som granulatet kan ge upphov till. Metoderna som använts i arbetet är litteraturstudie, personlig kommunikation, fältobservationer, kartsystem och figurer samt vattenprov.   Gavlefastigheter äger fem konstgräsplaner i Gävle kommun, vilka är Träffen IP, Gavlevallen, Nynäs IP, Sörby IP och Andersberg. På dessa planer används SBR- TPE- och R-EPDM-granulat. På planområdet förekommer dagvattenbrunnar och granulatet kan spridas till dessa genom ytavrinning vid höga regnflöden, snöplogning och smältvatten samt att spelarna får med sig partiklarna från planen. De flesta planer har dräneringssystem kopplat till dagvattenledningar som kan sprida urlakande ämnen till vattendrag. Dagvattenledningarna har utlopp i Testeboån, Bäckebrobäcken, Gavleån och Hemlingbybäcken. Granulatets fysikaliska egenskaper är en betydande roll om partikeln sedimenterar till botten eller om den kan transporteras med vattendraget. De konstgräsplaner som främst är i behov av åtgärder för att minska spridningen av granulat är Sörby, Anderberg och Nynäs.   Vattendragens statusklassning uppnår ej god kemisk status och ämnen som förekommer i förhöjda halter varierar beroende på vattendrag. Enligt tidigare studier kan flera av dessa ämnen urlaka från granulatet, vilket innebär att det finns en risk för ett tillskott av dessa ämnen om spridning sker.
Artificial turfs have been shown to be a significant source of microplastics. The filling material used on artificial turf is called granules and are under the definition microplastic. There are different kinds of granules on the Swedish market, these are SBR, TPE, EPDM and R-EPDM. The granules spread mainly through stormwater from artificial turf, which may then end up in nearby streams. Previous studies have shown that the granules can release toxic substances that risk contaminating the water. Aquatic organisms can misinterpret microscopic particles as food, which can cause consequences such as constipation and starvation. The substances that may leach from the granules belongs to the collective name environmental toxins and are stable, toxic, reproductive and accumulative.   The purpose of this study is to provide a description of the filling material that are used in artificial turfs in Gävle, investigate how these granules can spread and then identify suggestions to reduce the spread. The purpose is also to present the artificial turf's stormwateroutlets and water status to describe the potential environmental impact that the granulate may cause. The methods used in this work are literature studies, personal communication, field observations, map systems and figures and water samples.   Gavlefastigheter owns five artificial turfs in the municipality of Gävle which are Träffen IP, Gavlevallen, Nynäs IP, Sörby IP and Andersberg. These turfs use SBR- TPE and R-EPDM granules. There are open water wells on every turf area and granules can spread to these by surface water at intensive rain, snow plowing and meltwater and with the players when they leave the turf. Most turfs have drainage systems connected to stormwater pipelines that can spread leachable substances to water. The water pipelines have outlets in Testeboriver, Bäckebrostream, Gavleriver and Hemlingbystream. The physical properties of the granules have a significant effect if the particle sinks to the bottom or if it is transported along with the water. The artificial turfs that are primarily in need of taking actions to reduce the spread of granules are Sörby, Anderberg and Nynäs.   The waters do not achieve good chemical status and substances that occur at high concentrations varies depending on the kind of water. According to previous studies, several of these substances may leach from the granules which means that there is a risk of a contribution of these substances if spreading occurs.

Einfluss von Traktion auf das Bewegungsverhalten im Fußball - Interaktion zwischen Sohlenkonfigurationen von Fußballschuhen und Kunstrasen der dritten Generation Einleitung/Zielstellung: In den letzten Jahren hat die Entwicklung von Kunstrasen im Fußball enorm an Bedeutung zugenommen. Dabei sind qualitativ hochwertige Kunstrasenplätze (3. Generation, FIFA 2-Star) von der FIFA zum offiziellen Spielbetrieb zugelassen. Neuste Verletzungsstudien und Spielanalysen zeigen, dass sich die Eigenschaften von Kunstrasen und Naturrasen im Bezug auf Verletzungshäufigkeit und Spielgeschehen nicht gravierend unterscheiden (Ekstrand et al. 2006, FIFA 2009d). Doch sind Bewegungsverhalten und Bewegungsstrategien der Spieler auf Kunstrasen im Fußball noch nicht vollkommen verstanden. Ein Hauptkriterium für das Bewegungsverhalten des Sportlers sind die Traktionsverhältnisse – die Interaktion zwischen Schuh und Spielfläche (Sterzing et al. 2007). Hierfür nimmt die Sohlenkonfiguration eines Fußballschuhs, die durch Anzahl, Länge, Anordnung und Material der Nocken modifizierbar ist, eine zentrale Rolle ein. Die Traktionsverhältnisse haben dabei einen Einfluss auf die Leistungsfähigkeit und die Belastung des Sportlers (Shorten et al. 2003). Auf Kunstrasen verwenden Sportler Fußballschuhe mit einer Sohlenkonfiguration, die für Naturrasen entwickelt worden ist. Zum Zeitpunkt dieser Arbeit gab es nur vereinzelte und unsystematische Forschungen bezüglich Sohlenkonfigurationen für Kunstrasen. Somit herrscht eine Diskrepanz zwischen einer „neuen“ verwendeten Spielfläche und „alten“ getragenen Schuhen. In der Bewegungswissenschaft dient eine komplexe Sportschuhforschung dazu, Kriterien wie Traktionsverhältnisse zu untersuchen. Die komplexe Sportschuhforschung setzt sich dabei aus sportmotorischen, subjektiven, biomechanischen und mechanischen Messungen zusammen. Generell richtet sich dabei der Fokus von biomechanischen Messungen auf die genutzte Traktion, von mechanischen Messungen auf die verfügbare Traktion. In diesem Zusammenhang ist das Konzept von verfügbarer und genutzter Traktion von Fong et al. (2009) aufgezeigt. Geeignete Traktionsverhältnisse hinsichtlich einer besseren Leistungsfähigkeit spiegeln sich in höheren biomechanischen Scherkräften und einer besseren subjektiven Bewertung wider. Diese höheren biomechanischen Scherkräfte ermöglichen dem Sportler eine schnellere Laufzeit zu erzeugen. Ungeeignete Traktionsverhältnisse hinsichtlich einer erhöhten Belastung für den Sportler können sich durch eine Kombination oder Verbindung von einer relativ starken Fixierung des Schuhs mit der Spielfläche und erhöht auftretenden Gelenksmomenten der unteren Extremitäten auszeichnen. Das Ziel dieser Arbeit war die Untersuchung von Traktionsverhältnissen verschiedener Sohlenkonfigurationen von Fußballschuhen auf Kunstrasen. Dabei standen sowohl die Leistungsfähigkeit als auch die Belastung des Sportlers im Fokus der Arbeit. Außerdem ist der Einfluss von verschiedenen Rahmenbedingungen, wie Traktionsverhältnisse und verschiedene Bewegungsaufgaben (zeitliche Verzögerung durch Reaktion), auf die Bewegungsausführung von Sportlern bei schnellen Umkehrbewegungen analysiert worden. Methodik: Die Arbeit beinhaltet in einem Zeitrahmen von drei Jahren, drei aufeinander aufbauende Studien mit unterschiedlichem Untersuchungsdesign. Inhalte und Fragestellungen der einzelnen Studien ergaben sich aus den Erkenntnissen der jeweils davor durchgeführten Studie. Einzelne Messungen der Studien fanden entweder im Labor oder auch teilweise auf Sportplätzen als Feldtest statt. Studie 1 untersuchte die Traktionsverhältnisse von drei gängigen Sohlenkonfigurationen (Multinocken, Nocken, Stollen) und eines Prototypen (Kunstrasenmodell) hinsichtlich der Leistungsfähigkeit und funktionaler Nutzung. Inhalte waren ein sportmotorisches, subjektives, biomechanisches und mechanisches Testverfahren. Grundlegende Traktionsvariablen der einzelnen Testverfahren waren die Laufzeit der Probanden durch einen Slalom- und Sprintparcours, die subjektive Einschätzung der Probanden hinsichtlich der Traktionseignung der Sohlenkonfigurationen, Bodenreaktionskraftvariablen, wie horizontale Scherkräfte und der Kraftwert aus Scherkraft dividiert durch Vertikalkraft, bei verschiedenen fußballspezifischen Bewegungsausführungen und mechanische Traktionsvariablen wie Reibungskoeffizienten und Kraftanstiegsraten. In Studie 2 wurde das Bewegungsverhalten bei verschiedenen Sohlenkonfigurationen (Schuh ohne Nocken, Kunstrasenmodell, Nocken, Stollen) mit Hilfe einer biomechanischen Messung (Bewegungsanalyse) bei einer schnell ausgeführten Umkehrbewegung analysiert. Ziel war es, Bewegungsadaptationen aufgrund unterschiedlicher Traktionsverhältnisse kinematisch und kinetisch zu quantifizieren. Grundlegende Untersuchungsaspekte waren hierbei die Gelenksmomente der unteren Extremitäten, die horizontale Fußtranslation, definiert als relative Bewegung des Schuhs auf der Spielfläche während des Bodenkontakts und Winkelverläufe einzelner Segmente und Gelenke. In Studie 3 wurde der Einfluss auf das Bewegungsverhalten bei reaktiven Bewegungsausführungen gegenüber aktiven Bewegungsausführungen mit verschiedenen Sohlenkonfigurationen (Kunstrasenmodell, Nocken) bei einer schnell ausgeführten Umkehrbewegung untersucht. Für diese Studie diente erneut ein biomechanisches Testverfahren (Bewegungsanalyse) zur Analyse von kinematischen und kinetischen Variablen von Reaktion und Sohlenkonfigurationen. Für alle drei Studien stand insgesamt ein Probandenpool aus 58 männlichen Fußballspielern (Alter: 22.4 ± 3.3Jahre, Größe: 177.2 ± 4.6cm, Gewicht: 71.4 ± 5.6kg, Fußballpraxis: 6.4 ± 3.7h/Woche) zur Verfügung. Für die statistische Auswertung konnte mittels der Varianzanalyse für Mehrfachmessungen (ANOVA) und gegebenenfalls einer Post-Hoc Analyse nach Bonferroni zwischen den Sohlenkonfigurationen für sportmotorische und biomechanische Variablen diskriminiert werden. Für subjektive Testverfahren wurde der Friedman-Test verwendet, um zwischen Sohlenkonfigurationen zu unterscheiden. Die statistische Auswertung des mechanischen Testverfahrens erfolgte deskriptiv. In Studie 3 wurden die Daten mit einer zweifaktoriellen ANOVA mit Messwiederholung (Schuh und Reaktion) analysiert. Außerdem wurde in dieser Studie zusätzlich das Joint Coupling verwendet (Heiderscheidt et al. 2002). Ergebnisse: Traktionsverhältnisse auf Kunstrasen der dritten Generation beeinflussen die Leistungsfähigkeit des Sportlers und die Belastungen für den Körper des Sportlers. Flächig verteilte Sohlenkonfigurationen, wie das Multinocken- und Kunstrasenmodell, ermöglichen dem Sportler im Vergleich zu Sohlenkonfigurationen mit sehr langen Stollen, schneller einen Laufparcours zu durchlaufen. Schneller Laufzeiten werden außerdem auch subjektiv von den Sportlern wahrgenommen. Mit diesen Sohlenkonfigurationen erzielen die Sportler außerdem höhere biomechanische Scherkräfte. Hohe mechanische Traktionswerte spiegeln sich dabei nicht zwangsläufig in einer besseren Leistungsfähigkeit der Sportler. Niedrige Traktionsverhältnisse erzeugen bei schnellen Umkehrbewegungen einen vertikaleren Fußaufsatz und reduzierte Gelenksmomente durch ein erhöhtes „Rutschrisiko“. Dies führt zu einem Verlust an Leistungsfähigkeit. Hohe und exzessive Traktionsverhältnisse weisen sowohl eine relativ starke Fixierung des Schuhs mit der Spielfläche als auch hohe Gelenksmomente während des Richtungswechsels auf. Bewegungsadaptationen zwischen Fußballschuhen treten primär im distalen Bereich der unteren Extremitäten auf. Reaktive Bewegungsausführungen zeichnen sich aufgrund einer längeren Reaktionsphase gegenüber aktiven Bewegungsausführungen mit einem ungünstigen Fußaufsatz aus. Dies zeichnet sich bei Umkehrbewegungen durch eine geringere Tibiarotation und Fußadduktion in die neue Bewegungsrichtung aus. Während der Umkehrbewegung wird diese ungünstige Stellung der unteren Extremitäten primär durch einen verstärkten Eversionswinkel im Sprunggelenk kompensiert. Bei reaktiven Bewegungsausführungen sind außerdem die Momente im Knie- und Sprunggelenk erhöht. Unterschiede im Bewegungsmuster bei Sohlenkonfigurationen, die sich im Aufbau nicht stark unterscheiden, können bei verschiedenen Rahmenbedingungen nicht gefunden werden. Diskussion: Sohlenkonfigurationen beeinflussen das Bewegungsverhalten auf Kunstrasen. Niedrige Traktionsverhältnisse spiegeln sich in einem vorsichtigeren Bewegungsverhalten durch ein erhöhtes „Rutschrisiko“ wider, zu hohe Traktionsverhältnisse implizieren durch eine starke Fixierung des Sportlers mit der Spielfläche ebenfalls ein vorsichtigeres Bewegungsmuster. Nach dem Konzept von Fong et al. (2009) zeigen flächig und eben verteilte Sohlenkonfigurationen eine biomechanisch höhere genutzte Traktion. Im Gegensatz dazu, weisen Sohlenkonfigurationen mit langen Stollen eine höhere mechanisch verfügbare Traktion auf. Diese hohen mechanischen Traktionseigenschaften verhindern dabei aber den Sportler mit seiner bestmöglichen Leistung zu agieren. Flächig und eben verteilte Sohlenkonfigurationen wirken sich somit auf Kunstrasen der dritten Generation hinsichtlich der Leistungsfähigkeit und der Belastung für den Körper positiv aus. Dabei erzeugen hohe biomechanische Scherkräfte eine schnellere Abstoppbewegung oder eine kraftvollere Abstoßbewegung, die sich bei schnellen Umkehrbewegungen positiv auf die Bewegungsausführung auswirkt. Laufzeiten durch Parcours (Krahenbuhl 1974, Sterzing et al. 2009) und biomechanische Scherkräfte (Valiant 1988, Morag & Johnson 2001, Shorten et al. 2003) dienen als geeigneten Variablen, um Traktionsverhältnisse hinsichtlich der Leistungsfähigkeit zu untersuchen. Sowohl die Eindringtiefe der Nocken in die spezielle Verfüllung von Kunstrasen als auch die Verteilung der Nocken (Abstand Vorfuß- Rückfußnocken) können dabei die Traktionsverhältnisse von Fußballschuhen beeinflussen. Gelenksmomente und die horizontale Fußtranslation sind geeignete Indikatoren für die Belastungen der unteren Extremitäten während schnellen Richtungswechseln (Torg & Quedenfeld 1971, Ryder et al. 1997). Dabei erzeugen Sohlenkonfigurationen mit hohen mechanisch verfügbaren Traktionsverhältnisse eine niedrige horizontale Fußtranslation und erhöhte Gelenksmomente. Primär finden Adaptationsprozesse durch unterschiedliche Traktionsverhältnisse von Fußballschuhen im distalen Bereich der unteren Extremitäten statt. Dies könnte in Verbindung zu den Aussagen von Studien stehen, die im Fußball dem Sprunggelenk die größte Verletzungshäufigkeit zusprechen (Ekstrand et al. 2006). Reaktive Bewegungsausführungen können als weiteren möglichen Faktor für Verletzungen im Fußball herangezogen werden (Besier et al. 2001a). Hierfür richtet sich bei reaktiv durchgeführten Richtungswechseln erneut der Fokus auf das Sprunggelenk. Durch eine zeitliche Verzögerung bei reaktiven Bewegungen ist die Stellung der unteren Extremitäten des Sportlers im Vergleich zu aktiven Bewegungen weniger in die neue Bewegungsrichtung gebracht. Diese ungünstigere Stellung versucht der Sportler primär über eine verstärkte Eversion des Sprunggelenks zu kompensieren. Diese Kompensation kann für den Sportler ein erhöhtes Belastungsprofil im Sprunggelenk bedeuten (Giza et al. 2003). Allgemein lässt sich feststellen, dass sich ähnliche Sohlenkonfigurationen bei Probandentests hinsichtlich von Traktionsmessungen nur marginal unterscheiden. Eine Kombination von einer Vielzahl an möglichen Adaptationsprozessen, die sich in der Summe nivellieren, scheinen hierbei die Traktionseigenschaften von leicht unterschiedlichen Sohlenkonfigurationen zu überschatten. Eine Kombination aus sportmotorischem, subjektivem, biomechanischem und mechanischem Testverfahren ermöglicht eine allgemeingültige Aussage über Traktionsverhältnisse von Sohlenkonfigurationen auf Kunstrasen. Zusammenfassung: Traktionsverhältnisse, modifizierbar durch unterschiedliche Sohlenkonfigurationen, können die Leistungsfähigkeit der Sportler und die Belastungen der unteren Extremitäten beeinflussen. Auf Kunstrasen der dritten Generation erweisen sich eben und flächig verteilte Sohlenkonfigurationen als Vorteilhaft. Die Belastungen der unteren Extremitäten können sich durch reaktive Bewegungsausführungen weiter erhöhen
Influence of traction properties on movement patterns in soccer – Interaction between sole configurations of soccer boots and 3rd generation artificial turf Introduction/Objective: In recent years the development of artificial soccer turfs got an enormous enhancement. Thereby, high quality types of artificial soccer turfs (3rd generation, FIFA 2-star) were approved for official game play by the FIFA. Latest injury studies and game analysis studies showed that characteristics between artificial turf and natural grass do not differ for injury rates and playing style (Ekstrand et al. 2006, FIFA 2009d). However, movement patterns and movement strategies of soccer players on artificial turf are yet not fully understood. Main criteria for movement patterns of soccer players are traction properties – the player-surface interaction (Sterzing et al. 2007). Therefore, sole configurations of a soccer boot modifiable in numbers, length, geometry and material of studs plays an influencing role. Traction properties influence performance aspects and loads acting on the players’ body (Shorten et al. 2003). On artificial turf players normally use soccer boots with sole configurations designed for playing on natural grass. At the time of this project there were only isolated and unsystemmatic researches according to sole configurations for artificial turf. Thus, there is a discrepancy between a “new” surface and “old” shoes in soccer. In human locomotion a comprehensive assessment of athletic footwear is used to analyse criteria such as traction properties. Comprehensive assessment of athletic footwear contains motor performance, perception, biomechanical and mechanical testing. Generellay, biomechanical measurements focus on utilized traction, mechanical measurements on available traction. In this context, the concept of available and utilized traction is distinguished by Fong et al. (2009). Suited traction properties with regard to performance aspects might be reflected in higher utilized biomechanical shear forces and better perception. These higher biomechanical shear forces enable the player to run faster. Unsuited traction properties with regard to higher loads acting on the players’ body might be displayed by a combination or a linkage of relative fixed shoes with the ground and higher joint moments at the lower extremities. The objective of this doctoral thesis was to investigate traction properties of various sole configurations of soccer boots on artificial turf. Thereby, performance aspects as well as loads acting on the players’ body were on the focus of this doctoral thesis. Additionally, the influence of various basic conditions like traction properties and movement requirements (time constraint due to reaction) on movement pattterns were analyzed during dynamic changes of direction. Methods: This doctoral thesis contained three interdependent studies with several methods in a time period of three years. Topics and questions of each single study were resulted in the findings of the respective study before. Single testing sessions took place either in laboratory environment or partly on the pitch as field testing. In study 1 traction properties of three current available sole configurations (hard ground, firm ground and soft ground) and one prototype (artificial turf) were investigated with regard to performance aspects. Topics were motor performance, perception, biomechanical and mechanical testing. Fundamental traction variables of the testing sessions were running times of subjects through a slalom and acceleration course, traction perception of subjects according to liking of the sole configurations, ground reaction forces variables like horizontal shear forces and force ratio, shear force divided by vertical force, during several soccer-specific movements and mechanical traction variables like traction coefficients and force rising rates. In study 2 movement patterns of various sole configurations (soccer boot without studs, artificial turf, firm ground and soft ground) were analyzed via biomechanical testing (motion analysis) during dynamic turning movements. The purpose of this study was to quantify movement adaptations based on different traction properties. Fundamental research aspects were joint moments of the lower extremities, horizontal foot translation, defined as the relative motion of the shoe on the surface during ground contact and angles of several segments and joints of the lower extremities at touchdown and during turning. In study 3 the influence on movement patterns during reactive movements compared to active movements wearing various sole configurations (artificial turf, firm ground) during dynamic turning movements were investigated. For this study also biomechanical testing (motion analysis) served for analysis of kinematic and kinetic variables of reaction and sole configurations. For all three studies a subject pool of 58 male soccer players (age: 22.4 ± 3.3years, height: 177.2 ± 4.6cm, weight: 71.4 ± 5.6kg, experience: 6.4 ± 3.7h/week) was available. Statistical analysis was done by a one way repeated measured ANOVA and a post-hoc test by Bonferroni for motor performance and biomechanical variables to discriminate between sole configurations, if this was appropriate. For subjective testing, Friedman-test were used to differentiate between sole configurations. For mechanical testing, descriptive statistics were applied. In study 3 the data were analyzed according to two factors (shoe and reaction). Additionally, in this study vector coding was done (Heiderscheidt et al. 2002). Results: On 3rd generation artificial turf, traction properties influenced performance aspects of players and loads acting on the players’ body. Plane distributed sole configurations like hard ground and artificial turf design enabled the players to run faster through a traction course compared to aggressive sole configurations. Faster running times were well reflected by players’ perception. Plane distributed sole configurations were also perceived to be better suited on artificial turf. Additionally, these sole configurations provoked statistically higher biomechanical shear forces. High mechanical traction properties did not automatically lead to better performance aspects of the players. During dynamic changes of direction, too low traction properties provoked more vertical alignment with respect to perpendicular of the lower extremities and lower joint moments. High and excessive traction properties displayed a relative fixed shoe-ground interface as well as high joint moments during dynamic changes of direction. Movement adaptations with regard to soccer boots were primary shown in the distal part of the lower extremities. Reactive movement patterns showed an unsuited foot and leg placement at initial ground contact based on a longer phase of reaction compared to active movement patterns. This unsuited foot and leg placement was shown by reduced tibial rotation and foot adduction through new running direction. During turning this unsuited foot and leg placement were primary corrected by an increased ankle eversion angle. Additionally, higher knee and ankle joint moments were observed for reactive movement patterns. Differences in movement patterns for sole configurations, which are pretty similar in composition, were not found during reactive movements. Discussion: Sole configurations influence movement patterns and movement strategies on artificial turf. Low traction properties indicate more cautious movement behaviour due to risk of slipping, too high traction, implicated by high foot fixation of the player with the surface, indicate also more cautious movement behaviour. Referring the concept of Fong et al. (2009) plane distributed sole configurations provoke higher biomechanical utilized traction. In contrast, pronounced sole configurations with long studs provoke high mechanical available traction. However, these high and excessive mechanical traction properties disabled the subjects to perform with their best capacity. Therefore, plane and evenly distributed sole configurations showed positive aspects for performance and loads acting on the players’ body on 3rd generation artificial turf. Therefore, high biomechanical shear forces produce faster stops or more dynamic propulsion, which influence the performance positively during dynamic changes of direction. Running times through traction courses (Krahenbuhl 1974, Sterzing et al. 2009) and biomechanical shear forces (Valiant 1988, Morag & Johnson 2001, Shorten et al. 2003) were suited variables to detect traction properties according to performance. Penetration of studs into the ground as well as distribution of studs (distance between fore- and rearfoot studs) may play an influencing role on traction properties for soccer boots. Joint moments and horizontal foot translation are suited indicators for the loads acting on lower extremities during dynamic changes of direction (Torg & Quedenfeld 1971, Ryder et al. 1997). Thereby, sole configurations with too high mechanical traction show a combination of decreased horizontal foot translation and increased joint moments. These adaptation processes based on traction properties of soccer boots are primary shown in distal part of the lower extremities. There might be a linkage to reports showing ankle injuries are most common in soccer (Ekstrand et al. 2006). Additionally, reactive movement patterns may be another risk factor for injuries in soccer (Besier et al. 2001a). Due to time constraint for reactive movement patterns the foot and leg placement of the lower extremities are rotated to a lesser extend in new running direction compared to active movement patterns. This unprepared foot and leg placement were primary compensated by an increased eversion at ankle. This compensation might mean increased ankle loadings (Giza et al. 2003). In general it has been showed that pretty similar sole configurations only differ marginal with regard to traction properties during subjects testing. A combination of several adaptation processes, which levelled out in sum, might overshadow traction properties of marginal different sole configurations. A combination of motor performance, perception, biomechanical and mechanical testing allow to give a generally statement about traction properties of sole configurations on artificial turf. Conclusion: Traction properties, modifiable by different sole configurations, could play an influencing role for performance aspects of the players and for the loads of the lower extremities. On 3rd generation artificial turf plane and evenly distributed sole configurations work better than pronounded sole configurations. Loads of the lower extremities could be increased by reactive movement patterns

Background. Game development is a constantly evolving multi billion dollar in-dustry, and the need for quality products is very high. Testing the games however isa very time consuming and tedious task, often coming down to repeating sequencesuntil a requirement has been met. But what if some parts of it could be automated,handled by an artificial intelligence that can play the game day and night, givingstatistics about the gameplay as well as reports about errors that occurred duringthe session? Objectives. This thesis is done in cooperation with Fall Damage Studio AB, andaims to find and implement a suitable artificial intelligent agent to perform auto-mated test on a game Fall Damage Studio AB are currently developing, ProjectFreedom. The objective is to identify potential problems, benefits, and use casesof using a technique such as this. A secondary objective is to also identify what isneeded by the game for this kind of technique to be useful. Methods. To test the technique, aMonte-Carlo Tree Searchalgorithm was identi-fied as the most suitable algorithm and implemented for use in two different typesof experiments. The first being to evaluate how varying limitations in terms of thenumber of iterations and depth affected the results of the algorithm. This was doneto see if it was possible to change these factors and find a point where acceptablelevels of plays were achieved and further increases to these factors gave limited en-hancements to this level but increased the time. The second experiment aimed toevaluate what useful data can be extracted from a game, both in terms of gameplayrelated data as well as error information from crashes. Project Freedom was onlyused for the second test due to constraints that was out of scope for this thesis totry and repair. Results. The thesis has identified several requirements that is needed for a game touse a technique such as this in an useful way. For Monte-Carlo Tree Search specifi-cally, the game is required to have a gamestate that is quick to create a copy of anda game simulation that can be run in a short time. The game must also be testedfor the depth and iteration point that hit the point where the value of increasingthese values diminish. More generally, the algorithm of choice must be a part of thedesign process and different games might require different kind of algorithms to use.Adding this type of algorithm at a late stage in development, as was done for thisthesis, might be possible if precautions are taken. Conclusions. This thesis shows that using artificial intelligence agents for game-play testing is definitely possible, but it needs to be considered in the early part ofthe development process as no one size fits all approach is likely to exist. Differentgames will have their own requirements, some potentially more general for that typeof game, and some will be unique for that specific game. Thus different algorithmswill work better on certain types of games compared to other ones, and they willneed to be tweaked to perform optimally on a specific game.

Microplastic pollution as a global environment problem in marine systems has substantially raised public concern in recent years. In 2016, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency performed a study about potential sources and pathways of microplastics spreading to the marine environment. Microplastics from artificial turfs have been recognized as the second most important source of microplastic emission in Sweden. Between 1640 to 2460 tons per year of microplastics are estimated to be lost from artificial turfs. The lost microplastics are potentially transported to stormwater wells by runoff during rainfall events, eventually reaching marine environments. This study aims to track microplastics from artificial turfs to stormwater wells. Since the research of microplastic in stormwater has so far shown to be limited, field work and laboratory analysis have been developed in this study. Four artificial football fields located in Stockholm municipality were taken as sampling sites. First, pathways for microplastics from artificial turfs to stormwater were investigated. Second, the characteristics of microplastic granulates infill used in the football fields have been analyzed. Finally, stereo microscopy was used to visually identify microplastics in stormwater. The results showed that rainfall as a driving force of runoff process contributes to microplastics transport from artificial turfs to stormwater. During this transport process, a fraction of microplastics is captured by the soil. The size of microplastic granulates identified not only in stormwater but also in stormwater sediments is typically between 1 mm to 3 mm. Due to its limitations, stereo microscopy is quite a subjective method for identifying microplastics and thus not suitable for quantitative analysis, since microplastic particles are comparable in size to and visually difficult to differentiate from organic particles co-occurring in stormwater. In order to accurately quantify the amounts of microplastics transported to stormwater systems from artificial turfs, it is necessary to develop new methods for microplastics identification. This study presented an attempt in this direction, highlights its limitations, and discusses more suitable alternatives.

Although concepts of the XDL intersection or CFI (Continuous Flow Intersection) have been around for approximately four decades, users do not yet have a simplified procedure to evaluate its traffic performance and compare it with a conventional intersection. Several studies have shown qualitative and quantitative benefits of the XDL intersection without providing accessible tools for traffic engineers and planners to estimate average control delays, and queues. Modeling was conducted on typical geometries over a wide distribution of traffic flow conditions for three different design configurations or cases using VISSIM simulations with pre-timed signal settings. Some comparisons with similar conventional designs show considerable savings in average control delay, and average queue length and increase in intersection capacity. The statistical models provide an accessible tool for a practitioner to assess average delay and average queue length for three types of XDL intersections. Pre-timed signal controller settings are provided for each of the five intersections of the XDL network. In this research, a "real-time" traffic signal control strategy is developed using genetic algorithms and neural networks to provide near-optimal traffic performance for XDL intersections. Knowing the traffic arrival pattern at an intersection in advance, it is possible to come up with the best signal control strategy for the respective scenario. Hypothetical cases of traffic arrival patterns are generated and genetic algorithms are used to come up with near-optimal signal control strategy for the respective cases. The neural network controller is then trained and tested using pairs of hypothetical traffic scenarios and corresponding signal control strategies. The developed neural network controller produces near-optimal traffic signal control strategy in "real-time" for all varieties of traffic arrival patterns.
Master of Science

Background: The International Football Federation (FIFA), through their Goal project, renovated Rufaro stadium from natural turf (NT) to artificial turf (AT). This was met with mixed feelings especially with regard to injuries sustained by football players. There is no published scientific data on football injuries in Zimbabwe. Aim: To determine the frequency of injuries on AT and NT among Premier Soccer League (PSL) players in Zimbabwe. Objectives: To determine the attitudes of players regarding the different football playing surfaces, and the incidence, severity and injury types on AT and NT. Methods: The 2013 season's16 PSL teams were selected to complete questionnaires and injury report forms. Injuries recorded during matches on AT and NT were analyzed. Outcome measures were injury incidence (injuries/1000 player hours (Phrs) of exposure)compared for AT and NT using rate ratios (95% confidence intervals). All statistical significance were set at p<0.05. Results: A total of 325 players responded and 295(90.8%) preferred playing on NT. Of these, 250(76.9%) believed that AT was associated with more injuries. A total of 364 injuries occurred during 4455phrs of exposure giving an injury incidence of 81.7 injuries/1000phrs.A total of 69 games (1138.5phrs) on AT revealed an injury incidence of 85.2 injuries/1000phrs while 201 games (3316.5 phrs) on NT revealed an overall incidence of 80.51 injuries/1000-hrs.This analysis showed no statistically significant difference in the incidence of injury between AT and NT surfaces during matches played, [RR= 1.06; 95% CI: 0.84 – 1.34]. With regard to injury severity, the highest incidence occurred on the AT (31.62/1000phrs in the mild category) and the lowest incidence was on the NT (1.81/1000 phrs in the severe category) .The rate ratios for the severity were however not statistically significant. Comparison of the injuries according to body part injured largely revealed insignificant rate ratios. Conclusion: Football players believe that the AT is associated with increased risk of injury. There was no significant difference in injury incidence rates and severity between the AT and NT during the 2013 PSL season in Zimbabwe. The incidence of injury in this study was much higher than comparable European studies and is a need for further studies to explore the underlying reasons for this.

In the aviation industry, safety and robustness are the number one priorities, which is why they use well-tested systems such as hydraulic actuators. However, drawbacks such as high weight and maintenance have pushed the industry toward newer, electrical, actuators that are more efficient and lighter. Electrical actuators, on the other hand, have some reliability issues. In particular, short circuits in the stator windings of Permanent-Magnet SynchronousMotors (PMSMs), referred to as Inter-Turn Short Faults (ITSFs), are the dominating faults, and is the focus of this thesis. ITSFs are usually challenging to detect and often do not become noticeable until the fault has propagated, and the motor is on the verge of being destroyed. This thesis investigates the possibility of detecting ITSFs in a PMSM, at an early stage when only one turn is shorted. The method is limited to finding the faults using ML algorithms. Both an experiential PMSM and a simulated model of the experimental PMSM, with the ability to induce an ITSF, were used to collect the data. Several Machine Learning (ML) models were developed, and then trained and tested with the collected data. The results show that four of the tested ML models, being: Random Forest, Gaussian SVM, KNN, and the CNN, all achieve an accuracy exceeding 95%, and that the fault can be found at an early stage in a PMSM with three coils connected in parallel in each phase. The results also show that the ML models are able to identify the ITSF when the simulated data is downsampled to the same frequency as the experimental data. We conclude that the ML models, provided in this study, can be used to detect an ITSF in a simulated PMSM, at an early stage when only one turn is shorted, and that there is great potential for them to detect ITSFs in a physical motor as well.

Turn-taking is a fundamental process that governs social interaction. When humans interact, they naturally take initiative and relinquish control to each other using verbal and nonverbal behavior in a coordinated manner. In contrast, existing approaches for controlling a robot's social behavior do not explicitly model turn-taking, resulting in interaction breakdowns that confuse or frustrate the human and detract from the dyad's cooperative goals. They also lack generality, relying on scripted behavior control that must be designed for each new domain. This thesis seeks to enable robots to cooperate fluently with humans by automatically controlling the timing of multimodal turn-taking. Based on our empirical studies of interaction phenomena, we develop a computational turn-taking model that accounts for multimodal information flow and resource usage in interaction. This model is implemented within a novel behavior generation architecture called CADENCE, the Control Architecture for the Dynamics of Embodied Natural Coordination and Engagement, that controls a robot's speech, gesture, gaze, and manipulation. CADENCE controls turn-taking using a timed Petri net (TPN) representation that integrates resource exchange, interruptible modality execution, and modeling of the human user. We demonstrate progressive developments of CADENCE through multiple domains of autonomous interaction encompassing situated dialogue and collaborative manipulation. We also iteratively evaluate improvements in the system using quantitative metrics of task success, fluency, and balance of control.

This thesis is focused on design of framework for creation an articial opponents in strategy games. We will analyze different types of strategy games and artificial intelligence systems used in these types of games. Next we will describe problems, which can occur  in these systems and why agent-based systems makes better artificial opponents. Next we will use knowledge from this research to design and implement framework, which will act as support for creating an artificial intelligence in strategy games.

Syfte Syftet med studien är att undersöka fotbollsutövande gymnasieelevers uppfattningar av skaderisk på konstgräs respektive naturgräs. Metod En kvantitativ enkätundersökning med 46 stycken (st) deltagande gymnasieelever som läser lokal (LIU) eller nationell (NIU) godkänd idrottsutbildning inom fotboll. Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test användes för beräkning av medelvärde och för att urskilja statistiska signifikanta skillnader mellan de olika grupperna, match och träning på respektive spelunderlag. Chi- Square crosstabs post-hoc test användes för att urskilja statistiska signifikanta skillnader mellan de olika skadetyperna på respektive spelunderlag. Resultat Resultaten i denna studie visade att de deltagande fotbollsutövande gymnasieeleverna uppfattade att skaderisken för akuta- överbelastningsskador var högre på konstgräs än naturgräs, både under träning och match. Skillnaden mellan de olika grupperna, akuta- och överbelastningsskador under träning och match på respektive spelunderlag, var statistiskt signifikanta då signifikans nivån var mindre än p<0,05. De skadetyperna som de deltagande fotbollsutövande gymnasieeleverna uppfattade vara mest förekommande på konstgräs var rivsår/ skrapsår. De skadetyperna som de deltagande fotbollsutövande gymnasieeleverna uppfattade vara mest förekommande på naturgräs var muskelsträckning/ muskelbristning. Skillnaden mellan de olika grupperna, muskelbristning/ muskelsträckning samt rivsår/ skrapsår på konstgräs och naturgräs, var statistiskt signifikanta då signifikans nivån var mindre än p<0,05. Slutsatser Denna studie bekräftar att de deltagande fotbollsutövande gymnasieelevernas uppfattningar stämmer överens med vad tidigare studier har visat om elitfotbollsspelares uppfattningar om skaderisk på konstgräs i jämförelse med naturgräs. Att skaderisken för akuta- och överbelastningsskador uppfattas öka vid spel på konstgräs i jämförelse med naturgräs. Kvalitativa forskningsmetoder skulle kunna bidra till djupare förståelse av själva ämnet, samt upplevelser av uppfattningar av skaderisk och skadetyper på respektive spelunderlag. För att fler slutsatser ska kunna dras bör framtida studier även inkludera fler deltagare.
Purpose The aim with this study is investigate football practicing high school students’ perceptions of risk of injury on artificial turf and natural grass. Methods A quantitative questionnaire survey including 46 participating football practicing high school students. The Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test was used to calculate the mean and to distinguish statistically significant differences between the different groups, match and training on artificial turf and natural grass. The Chi-Square crosstab post-hoc test was used to distinguish statistically significant differences between the different types of injury on the respective game grounds Results The results in this study showed that the participating football practicing high school students’ perceived that the injury risk of acute- and overload injuries was higher on artificial turf than on natural grass, both during training and match. The difference between the different groups, acute and overload injuries during training and match on articial turf and natural grass was statistically significant as the level of significancewas less than p <0.05. The injury types that the participating football practicing high school students perceived to be the most common on artificial turf was abrasion/ laceration. The injury types that the participating football practicing high school students perceived to be the most common on natural grass were musclesprain/ strain. The difference between the different groups, musclesprain/ strain as well as abrasion/ laceration on artificial turf and natural grass was statistically significant as the level of significance was less than p <0.05. Conclusions This study confirms that the participating football practicing high school students’ perceptions concur with what previous studies have shown about elite football players' perceptions of injury risk on artificial turf in comparison with natural grass. The risk of acute and overload injuries is perceived to increase when playing on artificial turf in comparison to natural grass. Qualitative research methods could contribute to deeper understanding of the subject itself, as well as experiences of perceptions of injuries and types of injury on respective turfs. In order to draw further conclusions, should future studies include more participants.

EPDM and R-EPDM granules are used as infill on all of the artificial football fields in Uppsala. The aim of the study was to establish possible health risks related to the infill for players on artificial turf in Uppsala. Furthermore the aim was to investigate the possible ecotoxicological effect on surrounding waterways by the infill material. A comparative analysis concerning health and ecotoxicological effects for these materials was carried out. Eight different granules from the artificial turf in Uppsala was collected and analysed using TGA. The TGA results were modelled in two different scenarios to show possible air concentrations of 100-300 µg/m3 VOC over artificial football fields with EPDM granules. Calculations based on the tolerable daily dose of substances found in the granules were carried out. The conclusions of the study shows that the EPDM granules used today are safe from a health perspective. SBR granules from recycled tires does not constitute to any health risks either. The ecotoxicological risk for surrounding waterways is low. EPDM is less cost and energy efficient compared to SBR from recycled tires. Reduction of granular spill is very important from an environmental and cost point of view, regardless of the choice of material for artificial turf.

EPDM and R-EPDM granules are used as infill on all of the artificial football fields in Uppsala. The aim of the study was to establish possible health risks related to the infill for players on artificial turf in Uppsala. Furthermore the aim was to investigate the possible ecotoxicological effect on surrounding waterways by the infill material. A comparative analysis concerning health and ecotoxicological effects for these materials was carried out. Eight different granules from the artificial turf in Uppsala was collected and analysed using TGA. The TGA results were modelled in two different scenarios to show possible air concentrations of 100-300 µg/m3 VOC over artificial football fields with EPDM granules. Calculations based on the tolerable daily dose of substances found in the granules were carried out. The conclusions of the study shows that the EPDM granules used today are safe from a health perspective. SBR granules from recycled tires does not constitute to any health risks either. The ecotoxicological risk for surrounding waterways is low. EPDM is less cost and energy efficient compared to SBR from recycled tires. Reduction of granular spill is very important from an environmental and cost point of view, regardless of the choice of material for artificial turf.