Influence of bonding condition on mechanical performance of synthetic sports surfaces by FEM

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of interlayer bonding conditions on the mechanical performance of a synthetic sports track with time. A two-dimensional finite element model of the synthetic sports track was developed in order to calculate the track temperature stress and strain in thermal environmental conditions. Thermal and structural responses of the multi-layer sports ground were simulated using a transient thermal and structural analysis in one day. Based on that, different physical parameters of the interlayer were considered to analyze the influence of the bonding layer status on the potential damage of the surface layer in the sports track. The results indicated that different bonding conditions would affect the strain difference between the top and bottom of the synthetic sports layer, which might cause a weak mechanical performance of the synthetic sports layer. Finally, 2D finite element analysis was regarded to be a proper tool to simulate the transient thermal and mechanical behavior of the synthetic sports track. The suggested simulation model can predict the influence of bonding conditions on damage of the synthetic sports track, which can provide some guidance for engineers and technicians working on constructions of synthetic sports tracks.