Two-Year Frangible Pin Study Continues

Researchers will continue examining the physics behind rotational falls on cross-country courses.
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Two-Year Frangible Pin Study Continues
Frangible devices must be able to sustain high-intensity hits and still activate under the specific weight and angle requirements. | Photo: Taylor Pence Photography

As 2016 came to a close, so did the first half of a two-year study being conducted by the University of Kentucky’s (UK) College of Engineering in partnership with the United States Eventing Association (USEA) examining the physics behind rotational falls in the sport of eventing.

The study is led by Suzanne Weaver Smith, PhD, director of the Kentucky Space Grant Consortium and NASA EPSCoR and Donald and Gertrude Lester professor of mechanical engineering at UK, who is the dynamics and motion principal investigator. Smith’s team includes Gregorio Robles Vega, a mechanical engineering graduate student at UK, Lange Ledbetter, a senior mechanical engineering student at UK, and Shannon Wood, an equestrian and engineering physics student at Murray State University.

The study builds on previous research Smith conducted and aims to fill in the missing information regarding what happens between the fence, horse, and rider during a rotational fall. This information can be further translated into recommendations and requirements for new designs of frangible (easily broken) fences. Smith recently presented the first half of the study to the USEA Board of Governor’s to highlight the progress the team has made and what is left moving forward with the data that has been acquired

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