A method for using an ultrasonic thickness gauge to assess outsole wear in running shoes

Author

Ocif, J. ; Cappaert, J. ; Rich, B.

Author_Institution

Human Performance Eng. Lab, Reebok Int. Ltd., Canton, MA, USA

fYear

2004

fDate

17-18 April 2004

Firstpage

174

Lastpage

175

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to develop a method to quantify the wear rate of outsole rubber in the lateral heel strike area of running shoes over 350 miles. Sixty-two (62) male runners participated in a 350 mile accelerated running shoe study in which the thickness of the outsole rubber in 1 pair of shoes was measured non-destructively at approximately 10 mile intervals. Outsole rubber thickness was measured using an ultrasonic thickness gauge at 4 points on the heel. Total wear rate was calculated at each successive interval as the total thickness of rubber lost divided by the accumulated miles. The results showed that the wear rate started at 0.034 mm/mile and then decreased towards a plateau of 0.010 mm/mile as the shoe approached 350 miles.

Keywords

abrasion; biomechanics; footwear; impact (mechanical); thickness measurement; ultrasonic materials testing; ultrasonic transducers; 350 mile; lateral heel strike area; nondestructive measurement; outsole rubber thickness; outsole wear; running shoes; ultrasonic thickness gauge; wear rate; Delay effects; Footwear; Plastics; Pulse measurements; Rubber; Thickness measurement; Time measurement; Ultrasonic transducers; Ultrasonic variables measurement; Velocity measurement;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Bioengineering Conference, 2004. Proceedings of the IEEE 30th Annual Northeast

Print_ISBN

0-7803-8285-4

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/NEBC.2004.1300051

Filename

1300051