Determination of the Strain
Charactaristics of a Horses
Hoof
LT Schmidt
2010
Determination of the Strain
Charactaristics of a Horses
Hoof
LT Schmidt
2010
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this experiment is to determine the specific strain characteristics
encountered during normal use of a horse's hoof by means of strain gauges. This
is to gain a better understanding of the forces experienced by the hoof. The data
is to be used in further research into optimal horse shoeing.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Abstract ..................................................................................................................... i
Table of contents .................................................................................................... iii
List of figures........................................................................................................... iv
1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 6
2D 6
3B
6
4 Conclusions ........................................................................................................... 7
5 References ............................................................................................................ 8
Appendix A: Raw data for ........................................................................................ 9
A.1. Bla bla ...................................................................................................... 9
LIST OF FIGURES
Page
Figure 1: Bioreactor beautification example ........................................................... 7
1. INTRODUCTION
For many years horse owners have been using steel horse shoes to protect
their horses' hooves. This provides protection against sharp objects and
rock. It also reduces wear. Steel, however, has a much higher modulus of
elasticity and is thus much stiffer than keratin, of witch horses' hooves are
made. It has been suggested that a material with a modulus of elasticity
closer to that of keratin would be better suited for use in horse shoes. This
experiment seeks to learn more about the specific strain characteristics of
hooves in order to enable the optimisation of horse shoe design.
2. OBJECTIVE
For many years horse owners have been using steel horse shoes to protect their
horses' hooves. This provides protection against sharp objects and rock. It also
reduces wear. Steel, however, has a much higher modulus of elasticity and is
thus much stiffer than keratin, of witch horses' hooves are made. It has been
suggested that a material with a modulus of elasticity closer to that of keratin
would be better suited for use in horse shoes. The purpose of this experiment is
to determine the specific strain characteristics encountered during normal use
of a horse's hoof. This is to gain a better understanding of the forces
experienced by the hoof. The data is to be used in further research into optimal
horse shoeing.
4. Descripion of experiment
This experiment must be done on a barefoot horse. It should then be repeated on a horse that
wears steel shoes. The results are then compared.
Four bi-axial strain rosettes are placed on various locations on a horses hoof. The rosettes are
placed vertically, rather than in line with the grain of the keratin. They are placed within 10mm
from the bottom of the hoof. The same calculations can then be done on all measurements to
obtain local strain results paralel and normal to the shoe.
Each individual strain gague is connected in a Wheatstone-bridge setup. This simple arrangement
is used as no compensation for bending or temperature-related effects are required. The output
signal then is amplified. The amplified signal is recorded by a portable data logger at a sample
rate greater than 100 Hz.
5. Details of Design
The experiment is to be done on at least two different horses. One horse must be a horse that
has been barefoot for more than a year, to gain an understanding of the natural strains that a
horse's hoof is subjected to. A second horse should be one that wears steel shoes. The results are
then compared to gain an understanding of the role a horse shoe plays.
Four bi-axial strain rosettes are placed on four points of the horses front left hoof. One point in
the
Each strain gauge is connected to a Wheatstone Bridge and an amplifier. The data is then logged
on a data logger capable of measuring at 20Hz with 14bit analogue to digital conversion.
6. Possible Errors to consider
The Modulus of elasticity of horse-hoof keratin varies greatly and is dependent on the local
hydration of the hoof (Bertram and Gosline). This varies greatly from the inside to the outside of
the hoof. While it is relatively consistent on the outside surface, where the measurements are
taken, it would not be strange for elastic modulus to be double the value in some places. Stress
calculated from strain measurements may thus not be very reliable. The strain measured would
still be accurate, though. The variation in strain across various parts of the hoof should prove as a
good indication as to the forces and strain to be expected in the shoe itself.
Care should be taken in the selection of the glue used to affix the strain gauges to the hoof. The
glue should not cause local hydration of the keratin, as this would affect results.
The errors introduced by heat should be negligible, compared to the uncertainties of the modulus
of elasticity of keratin.
2 REFERENCES
Strunk, W and White, E B, 1979, The Elements of Style, 3rd ed, MacMillan, New
York.
J. E. A. Bertram and J. M. Gosline, 1987, Functional Design of Horse Hoof Keratin
- The Modulation of Mechanical Properties through Hydration Effects, The
Company of Biologists Limited
APPENDIX A: RAW DATA FOR
A.1.
H
Bla bla