Second generation reinforced natural turf ...
IT’S FIBRELASTIC
Three main types of fibre reinforcement were developed during the 1990s.
1. Loose, multidirectional polypropylene fibres as in Fibreturf
2. ‘Stitched’ fibres as in DESSO Grassmaster
3. X-tra Grass preformed carpet
All three techniques have been, and are being, widely used to reinforce or stabilise sand-dominant rootzones in order to provide the surfaces required by present day top tier football and rugby clubs and the major national stadiums. Initially, the development of fibre-
reinforced sand dominant rootzone pitches was probably first encouraged and promoted by the STRI personnel. In the late 1980s they recognised the need to improve the stability of sand dominant rootzone pitches once grass cover had diminished, or even been completely lost. At that time sand based pitches were becoming much more frequently constructed due, principally, to their undoubted drainage, ‘mud-free’ and grass cover advantages when compared to traditional soil pitches. Following an intensive research
programme carried out at the STRI headquarters at Bingley, trials for Fibreturf were held at Hull City’s old Boothferry Park ground in the centre circle and goalmouths during the 19991/92 season. The following season the first full Fibreturf pitch was installed at Oldham Athletic’s Boundary Park ground. This ‘prototype’ pitch stayed in for two full First Division (now Premier) seasons and was very successful from a stabilisation viewpoint although it had the drawback of being too hard, partly due to the excessive fibre content and partly due to lack of knowledge of correct maintenance procedures that were required with such a novel rootzone. This, in turn, led to lack of grass cover and other associated problems. The knowledge gained from these
‘prototype’ pitches enabled significant improvements to be made in the composition of the rootzone and also point the way in which maintenance procedures would have to be improved in order to control and minimise the hardness and loss of grass cover effects. From the mid 90s onwards greatly
improved maintenance procedures, particularly based on regular use of
various types of aeration equipment, were developed by several Head Groundsmen and Grounds Managers. The situation today has not really changed significantly since the late 90s with a considerable number of Fibreturf, Grassmaster and X-tra Grass pitches being constructed each year both as new stadium or replacement pitches. All such pitches are being maintained along the lines developed in the mid-late 90s in order to maximise the advantage of fibre reinforced, sand dominant rootzones whilst minimising the potential ‘hardness’ drawback. This, of course, is fundamental to a sand dominant rootzone, particularly so when fibre stabilised, when compared to a traditional soil based rootzone. Fibresand UK, leaders in fibre
reinforced sand technology and having been aware of this situation for some time, began a two year research programme at the STRI in 2004 in order to investigate the effects of using ‘elastic- type’ polyurethane fibrous material in addition to the polypropylene fibres already used for reinforcement. The final results of this programme were tremendously encouraging not only in
65
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104