Sports and Materials Science

1
Sports and Materials Science

• Martin Strangwood
• The University of Birmingham,
• Sports Materials Research Group
• School of Engineering, Metallurgy and Materials

2
Application Numbers

• 1995 Materials applicants 400 nationally
• 1998 Number reduced to 350
• 2002 Further fall to 200

3
Where do the candidates go?
4
Joint courses with Materials

• In 1992 started a joint course with the Medical
  School in BioMedical Materials Science (BioMat)
• Two thirds Medicine, one third Materials
• Attracted failed Medics, i.e. tapping into new
  student base
• Stabilised at 24 students each year
• Based on established research into replacement
  teeth and coating of hip / knee joints

5
Traditional design

• Frame made from metallic tubes
• Tubes joined into triangles
• Generate stiffness, strength, fatigue resistance
  and damage tolerance from steels (aluminium-based
  or titanium-based alloys)

6
Development of SMS

• In 1997 Biomechanics lecturer left mid-term and
  Met Mat lecturer (on BioMat) drafted in as cover
• Complementary interests between SportEx and Met
  Mat in terms of performance of sports equipment
  and athlete performance with equipment
• Course started in 1999 with 8 students (SportEx
  rejects)

7
Advanced material design

• Non-traditional shape
• Monocoque design needed to benefit from
  properties of fibre composites
• Changed design modifies cycling style
• Costly and poor damage tolerance

8
Composites in tennis

• Head introduced large racket
• Increased area through using lower density
  materials (c.f. wood)
• Increased stiffness leads to greater power play

9
Problems in tennis

• Serve and volley game
• Reduced interest in mens game
• Use of larger balls (now three allowed
  competition balls)
• Increased occurrence of tennis elbow

10
SMS course balance (Materials)

• Structure and properties of materials (mostly
  polymers, composites and metallic alloys)
• Processing
• Failure of materials (fatigue, fracture,
  corrosion)
• Design (increasing as course develops)
• Project

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SMS structure (SportEx)

• Human Physiology
• Biochemistry
• Psychology
• Anatomy
• Exercise
• Motivation
• Nutrition

12
SMS course growth

• 1999 8 students
• 2000 17 students
• 2001 28 students
• 2002 33 students
• 2003 27 students

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Where does SportsMat take you?

• PhDs
• MRes (in Materials)
• Medicine
• Teaching
• Sports goods industry
• Health and leisure