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Understanding Drainage of Athletic Fields

Dr. Andy McNittPenn State University

3 Secrets to successful sports field management is …..

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½ % Slope

1% Slope

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Backfill Options

GravelChoker Material

Choker Material, & Topdressing

Low Play Moderate Play High Play

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Pittsburgh Steelers Practice Field

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Include clean outs

Installation Details

Maintain constant slope Tape all joints

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Locator wire

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Gravel Base Topdressed Fine Grit

Grit Rolled

Rolled Topdressed Fine Grit

www.personal.psu.edu/asm4

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Base Specifications

• Compacted Percolation Rate = 79.8 in/hr• To ensure structural stability• D60/D10 > 5 and 1 < D30 squared/(D60/D10) <

3• D60/D10 = 2 and D30 Squared /(D60/D10) =

9.68• To ensure separation of both stones:

Specification ( 3 - 6)• D50 base stone / D50 top stone = 1.85• Specification ( >2)• D85 finishing stone / D15 base stone = 1.14

ASTM Standards

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Perfectly Hydrophobic Surface

By using surfactants

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What is a surfactant? 3 Main Types of Surfactant

• Anionic Surfactants

• Cationic Surfactants

Non-ionic surfactantsLocalized Dry Spot

Hydrophobicity

• Repels Water

• Percolation

• 3 in/hr

• 30 in/hr

• 300 in/hr

Fabric Softener

Citrus Blast

Orange Crystal

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