Reference to this article: ConductScience, Ultimate guide on Clegg Impact Testers (2022). doi.org/10.55157/CS20220727
What Is a Clegg Impact Tester?
Clegg Impact Tester, also known as Clegg Hammer or Clegg Impact Hammer, is a portable device used to determine a surface’s shock absorption and bearing capacity. It is used to measure and control the strength of soils, aggregates, and synthetic materials for sports surfaces and roads.
The device is named after its inventor, Dr. Baden Clegg, and is used to relate the surface’s ability to withstand the structural load put upon the surface. It also allows users to determine on-site, the strength, stiffness, and stability of the testing surface, and whether it meets relevant standards.[1]
![](https://conductscience.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Clegg_impact_tester_01_1-1024x819.jpg)
Figure: Clegg Impact Tester
The main components of the Clegg Impact Tester are:[1]
1. Compaction hammer
A compaction hammer is a standard mass dropped to the surface from a specific vertical distance. The impact of the compaction hammer on the testing surface produces the deceleration of the mass, which is recorded in gravities (g) or Clegg Impact (CIV or IV) One CIV unit is equal to 10 gravities.
The original standard hammer is 4.5g, designed to determine the quality of road-building materials such as crushed rocks, laterite gravel, sandstone, and fine sand. Nowadays, the mass of the compaction hammer can be medium (2.25kg), lite (0.5kg), and heavy (10 or 20kg), enabling users to apply the device to various applications.[1,2]
2. Guiding tube
A guiding tube is a self-standing cylindrical tube of a specific height providing the standard drop height and allowing users to compare data from several measurements. The current standard height of the guiding tube is 45 centimeters.
3. Piezoelectric accelerometer
A piezoelectric accelerometer is attached to the compact hammer to measure the deceleration values of the free-falling compaction hammer. Considered the heart of the Clegg Impact Tester, the accelerometer displays the maximum (peak) deceleration or G-max.
The value helps to calculate additional values such as total impact duration, maximum deceleration duration, average deceleration, surface deformation, and rebounding time. These give users a comprehensive picture of the surface and its base materials characteristics.[3]
The original Clegg Hammer has an analog gauge, showing the values measured by the accelerometer. However, the analog gauge often needs resetting to zero before taking a new measurement. Most Clegg Impact Testers nowadays come with a digital display that comes with an auto-zero function and houses a control unit that provides additional functions.[2]
4. Additional components
Asides from the three main components, Clegg Hammers may also have other components that add to their functionality and user’s convenience. For example, a combined vibration analyzer- Clegg Impact Tester can generate the deceleration curve over time.
A GPS, hard disk drive, and Bluetooth device can be added to the Clegg Impact Testers so that users can record positioning data and download them to other devices for further analysis.[3]
Standard Testing Procedure
The Clegg Impact Hammers are portable and easy to use. Users do not need specialized training to use the device and obtain accurate measurements. Nonetheless, a technical understanding of the relevant application is generally required to interpret and follow up on the data obtained from the measurements.
Follow these steps to obtain the strength of the surface using a Clegg Impact Tester:
- Select a level spot on the surface of interest, and remove loose materials from the spot before measurement.
- Place the guiding tube into the position.
- Put one foot on the guide’s base and stabilize the device with the lower leg and knee. This step ensures that the device is stable.
- Raise the compaction hammer to the indicated height, typically characterized by a color indicator, which must be even with the top of the guiding tube. Some models may also have a quick-release trigger to secure the drop height and prevent unintentional release.
- Release the compaction hammer, allowing it to free fall.
- The values for deceleration and other parameters (if any) should be shown on the display screen.
Typically, an assessment by a Clegg Impact Tester is performed several times on the surface of interest. The measurements are repeated on the same spot and performed on other spots on the surface of interest. The number of repeats and spots per area is usually provided in standardized methods for using Clegg Impact Hammers on surfaces subjected to specific regulations.
Applications of Clegg Impact Hammers
Since its conception, Clegg Impact Testers have been used for in situ quality control of the following:
1. Base courses or construction foundations
The base courses and construction foundations are the original subjects of the Clegg Impact Testers. They were first measured by imposing a series of 4.5kg-Clegg Hammer to the surface until acquiring a constant impact value.
Since then, the compaction hammer mass has been increased to 10kg and 20kg, allowing the Clegg Hammer to test thicker surfaces with multiple layers, such as flexible pavement and gravel road beds.[1-2]
2. Natural and artificial turfs
The Clegg Impact Tester measures the impact value of natural and artificial turfs meant for outdoor activities like playgrounds and sporting events. The resulting values are used to estimate the hardness and firmness of the turf and whether it is safe if children or players fall onto the turf. Most turfs are measured by a Clegg Impact Tester with a medium (2.25kg) compaction hammer.[2]
3. Athletic tracks and surface
Similar to turfs, the hardness and firmness of an athletic track and surface are evaluated by a medium-mass Clegg Impact Tester. Hard surfaces can pose acute or repetitive strain injuries to human and equine athletes who regularly train and compete on them.[4]
4. Stall base and surface
The softness of the stall base and surface plays a significant role in the health and welfare of stall animals. For instance, comfortable stalls can encourage dairy cows to spend more time lying down, increasing their blood flow and milk production.
In this case, a heavy Clegg Impact Tester with a 10kg compaction hammer is used to appraise the suitability of the stall base and assess whether and how much bedding materials should be added to increase the cow’s comfort.[5]
Choosing the Right Clegg Impact Tester
In general, Clegg Impact Testers are straightforward, portable, and durable. Here are some factors to consider when purchasing one:
- Hammer weight: The mass of the compaction hammer should be the determining factor in choosing a Clegg Impact Tester. It determines the usefulness of the device, including the compatible applications and the portability of the device.
- Readout range: Like the hammer weight, the lower and upper limits restrict the Clegg Impact Tester capacity. If the target impact value is smaller or larger than the readout range, consider another Clegg Impact Tester with a different hammer weight to obtain a more accurate and precise value.
- Power source and battery life: In most applications, Clegg Impact Testers are used on-site. This means that the devices carry their power sources for their analog or digital displays. Most Clegg Hammers use batteries as power sources, which can last up to 12 months.
- Other features: Depending on the intended applications, features such as GPS positioning, data storage, transfer, and connection ports can reduce the number of steps or works required to analyze the obtained measurements.
Conclusion
A Clegg Impact Tester is a device that measures the impact of its free-falling compaction hammer on the surface of interest. The resulting deceleration values enable users to assess the capacity of the surface to bear structural loads and absorb shock impact on-site.
In other words, the Clegg hammer is used to measure and control the strength of soils, aggregates, and synthetic materials for sports surfaces and roads. It consists of a hammer, a tube that guides the hammer, and an accelerometer mounted on the hammer.
It is an easy-to-use device that can accommodate various applications, depending on the size of the compaction hammer. If you need to assess the hardness of turfs and athletic tracks, check out our Clegg Impact Tester with a medium-sized compaction hammer!
References:
- Clegg, Baden E. “An impact testing device for in situ base course evaluation.” Australian Road Research Board Proceedings, 8(8), 1976, pp.16. https://trid.trb.org/view/67303
- https://www.clegg.com.au/Dr%20Baden%20Clegg%20Pty%20Ltd%2005-c_files/frame.htm
- Dixon, Charles R., and McWilliam, Stephen B. Turf Impact Analysis System. US5736631A, United States Patent and Trademark Office, 7 April 1998.
- Munoz-Nates, F., et al. “Comparison between Clegg Impact Soil Tester and Hoof Impact Shock Measurements on 13 Surfaces Used for Training Trotters or Sport Horses.” Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering, 20(1), 2017, https://doi.org/10.1080/10255842.2017.1382903.
- Fulwider, W.K., and R.W. Palmer. “Use of Impact Testing to Predict Softness, Cow Preference, and Hardening over Time of Stall Bases.” Journal of Dairy Science, 87(9), 2004, pp. 3080–3088., https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.s0022-0302(04)73442-6.