ASTM F1631-95
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Impact Attenuation Properties of Body Padding and Protective Wear for the Sport of Fencing (Withdrawn 2003)
Standard Test Method for Impact Attenuation Properties of Body Padding and Protective Wear for the Sport of Fencing (Withdrawn 2003)
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers a comparative measurement method for impact absorption properties for body padding and protective wear (apparel) for the sport of fencing. The apparel includes fencing mask bibs, underarm protectors or plastrons, padded vests, uniform jackets, knickers or trousers, gloves, and other protection worn to protect against impacts from the fencing weapon's tip (for example, touches) for foil, saber, or epee. The scope of this test method excludes measurement or performance for perforation resistance of the blade, whether in tact or broken. Note 1-This is a simple test method to discriminate between qualities of different padding materials or systems under an impact that simulates the delivery of a fencing touch. It does not purport to measure quantitative impact energy absorption values at thrust sites. Until in-field data become available, this standard allows manufacturers to intercompare padding systems, fabrics, materials, or composites for protective fencing wear for integrity, robustness, and impact attenuation.
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems associated with fencing padding and will not prevent all injuries due to blades impacting fencers. It is the responsibility of the users of the protective padding to establish appropriate safety practices, including maintaining safe fencing distances and care and inspection of the protective wear as well as the blade. Specifically, this standard does not address degradation of the protective padding with use and laundering, or performance of the padding for puncture resistance by thrusts involving in-tact or broken blades. It should be recalled that the sport derives from duelling and is inherently not free of risk of injury or death .
General Information
Standards Content (Sample)
NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: F 1631 – 95
Standard Test Method for
Impact Attenuation Properties of Body Padding and
Protective Wear for the Sport of Fencing
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 1631; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3.1.1 acceleration (deceleration)—the instantaneous time
rate of change of velocity, either positive (acceleration) or
1.1 This test method covers a comparative measurement
negative (deceleration).
method for impact absorption properties for body padding and
3.1.2 anvil—the impacting surface upon which the test
protective wear (apparel) for the sport of fencing. The apparel
specimen or representative sample is placed.
includes fencing mask bibs, underarm protectors or plastrons,
3.1.3 attenuation factor—the ratio, G (av) of the sample
max
padded vests, uniform jackets, knickers or trousers, gloves, and
divided by G (av) of the modular elastomer pad (MEP).
max
other protection worn to protect against impacts from the
3.1.4 bib—the protective covering for the neck area of a
fencing weapon’s tip (for example, touches) for foil, saber, or
fencer, attached to the lower front and sides of the fencing
épée. The scope of this test method excludes measurement or
mask.
performance for perforation resistance of the blade, whether in
3.1.5 fencing jacket—a protective garment that is worn over
tact or broken.
other protective wear such as the underarm protector, breast
NOTE 1—This is a simple test method to discriminate between qualities
protectors, and other optional protection. It is the garment that
of different padding materials or systems under an impact that simulates
receives the opponent’s touches to the upper body and full
the delivery of a fencing touch. It does not purport to measure quantitative
torso.
impact energy absorption values at thrust sites. Until in-field data become
3.1.6 g—the acceleration of matter due to gravity at the
available, this standard allows manufacturers to intercompare padding
systems, fabrics, materials, or composites for protective fencing wear for surface of the earth.
integrity, robustness, and impact attenuation.
3.1.7 G—the ratio of the magnitude of missile deceleration
during impact to the acceleration of gravity, g. Hence, G values
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the
are dimensionless.
safety problems associated with fencing padding and will not
3.1.8 G —the maximum value of G encountered during
prevent all injuries due to blades impacting fencers. It is the max
impact.
responsibility of the users of the protective padding to establish
3.1.9 G (av)—the arithmetic average of the set of G -
appropriate safety practices, including maintaining safe fenc- max max
values as stipulated in this test method.
ing distances and care and inspection of the protective wear as
3.1.10 glove—the protective garment for the hand holding
well as the blade. Specifically, this standard does not address
the weapon.
degradation of the protective padding with use and laundering,
3.1.11 impact attenuation—the deceleration of an object
or performance of the padding for puncture resistance by
upon impact on an object, measured in units of g.
thrusts involving in-tact or broken blades. It should be recalled
3.1.12 knickers or trousers—a protective garment that cov-
that the sport derives from duelling and is inherently not free of
ers the lower half of the torso and the legs to below the knees.
risk of injury or death.
The fencing knickers or trousers area must pass a puncture test
2. Referenced Documents
established by the FIE.
3.1.13 missile—the impacting device that is used to drop
2.1 ASTM Standards:
onto the test specimen placed on the anvil.
E 105 Practice for Probability Sampling of Materials
3.1.14 modular elastomer pad (MEP)—6 in. (152 mm)
E 122 Practice for Choice of Sample Size to Estimate a
diameter, 1 in. (25 mm) thick, 60 6 5 durometer (Shore A)
Measure of Quality for a Lot or Process
impact surface.
3. Terminology
3.1.15 padding or protective wear—the equipment or gar-
ments worn by fencers or coaches to reduce the impact of the
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
incoming tip of the foil, saber, or épée blade in the sport of
fencing. The U.S. Fencing Association issues specifications for
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F-8 on Sports
Equipment and Facilitiesand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F08.13 on
Fencing.
Current edition approved Dec. 10, 1995. Published February 1996. The MEP impact surface required for this test (Model #9000-122) is available
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.02. from U.S. Testing Co., Inc., of 1415 Park Avenue, Hoboken, NJ 07030.
Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
F 1631
fencing equipment and wear in its rule book , but not for 6.1.2 Type II—Somewhat flexible padding systems such as
padding performance. for jackets, underarm protectors, and optional padded under-
3.1.16 padding system—protective wear intended to absorb jackets or vests. This type of padding typically covers areas of
or deflect, or both, a portion of the energy imparted by impacts the armed arm and the upper and lower half of the torso,
on it. A padding system can consist of several dissimilar layers. especially the side exposed to the incoming touches (right side
3.1.17 robustness or integrity—resilience of the protective for right-handed fencers, left side for left-handed fencers).
padding to impacts by visual inspection for signs of permanent 6.1.3 Type III—Semi-rigid padding systems for mask bibs,
deformation, stretching, or rupture. backs of fencing gloves, and masters’ jackets or plastrons.
3.1.18 tip—the far end of the weapon’s blade with which 6.1.4 Type IV—Fully rigid, inflexible surfaces upon impact
the opponent is touched and scores are registered. by forces of 800 N or more.
3.1.19 touches—the delivery of a point (all three weapons)
7. Apparatus
or a cut (saber) to the opponent.
7.1 Configuration—Guided free-fall drop test apparatus is
3.1.20 underarm protector or plastron—a sleeve worn on
described that tests the padding system on a MEP anvil secured
the arm holding the weapon (foil, saber, épée), under the
onto a rigid substrate with a missile at a given impact velocity
fencing jacket. This protector is multi-layered and does not
determined by the drop height. The missle can be guided by
have a seam where the fencing jacket has its seam.
either a monorail or a guide wire for best quantitative repro-
3.1.21 weapon—the fencing equipment that is used for
ducibility. A guiding pipe can also be used, provided the inside
delivering the touches to the opponent. The weapon is either a
is smooth and the fit does not add significant friction (less than
foil, a saber, or an épée, each with different scoring rules, but
2 % energy absorption). The anvil mass should be at least 100
with similar mechanical functions in connection with the
times that of the missile. The test machine and missile shall
impact attenuation property requirements addressed in this test
have sufficient rigidity to eliminate undesirable vibrations in
method. Dimensions of fencing weapons are described in the
the apparatus that might cause added forces at the time of
U.S. Fencing Association rule book.
impact and reflected on any data recording. The apparatus
4. Summary of Test Method
optionally can monitor and record quantitatively the accelera-
4.1 General: tion versus time graph on an oscilloscope.
4.1.1 Purpose—The purpose of this test method is to allow 7.1.1 Configurations:
for comparative testing of padding systems. This is not an 7.1.1.1 Configuration A for flat padding systems, such as
absolute test of energy absorption of the padding system but bibs or jacket surfaces that can rest flat on the test area. A flat
allows manufacturers to choose the better from among choices modular elastomer pad (MEP) is used as anvil.
for padding systems, by comparing G values as well as 7.1.1.2 Configuration B for curved protection, such as a
max
visual inspection for identical tests done on different padding breast protector, using a curved, raised MEP so that the sample
systems. rests fully on the MEP.
7.2 Missile—The missile shall consist of an 8.00 6 0.05 lb
4.1.2 Approach—A test specimen is impacted with a missile
of specified configuration from a specified height yielding a (3.64 6 0.02 kg) steel cylinder with a foil tip or épée tip
known velocity at impact. A transducer can be mounted on the mounted at the bottom, as specified in Fig. 1. The foil (or épée)
missile to monitor the acceleration-time history of the impact tip measuring approximately 2.9 (foil) to 3.0 (épée) cm long
that is recorded with the aid of an oscilloscope or other (including the button at the end), protrudes at the bottom of the
recording device. This is necessary to analyze the impact flat cylinder, preventing the cylinder from making contact with
attenuation but is not necessary for
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