Overview

It is important to know how effective a playing surface is in terms of traction and other mechanical attributes. By testing the forces applied to a playing field during games when athletes are running or quickly changing direction, you can assess surface quality related to performance and safety.

The BEAST is a transportable machine that is used to quantify the interactions between athletic footwear and the most common playing surfaces.

To do this, the machine uses a common cleat used in professional American football to apply vertical loads to the surface consistent with American football players during play. The machine then applies force to the cleat, measuring the load that can be supported by the cleat-surface interface. The cleat can be loaded horizontal to the surface (translation mode) or torqued about its axis (rotation mode).

By conducting traction testing in both modes, a field’s traction can be evaluated for athlete playability and potential for increased injury risk. Conducting consistent testing also allows for measuring a field consistency across space and time.

The machine tests the forces between the shoe and the playing surface using the following repeatable and measurable tests:

• Translation test

• Rotation test

• Impact test

• Moisture content (natural surfaces only)

• Infill depth (synthetic surfaces only)

The machine is supplied as one of two variants

Laboratory	The machine is fixed to a solid floor and is used for indoor laboratory testing.
Field	The machine is mobile and can be towed to various locations on a playing field for testing.

All figures shown in this manual show the Field V 2.0 variant, which is distinguishable by the presence of the front caster and rear wheels.