Shock absorption test revised

This important assessment been comprehensively revised for the first time since its original 1992 release date.

An update to the SATRA TM142 falling mass shock absorption test has been released. This important assessment method, which is highly relevant to the bottoms of sports shoes and general insocks/footbeds, as well as being of interest to producers of comfort footwear, has recently been comprehensively revised for the first time since its original 1992 publication.

While the essence of the test – and the equipment required – remain the same, there are several key points of change. The heel impact position has been amended, and there is much more explicit information on how to test insocks/footbeds in conjunction with a standard rubber base, measuring the percentage enhancement they provide to the performance of the base by itself.

Revisions to the test method

The test procedure previously involved repeated drops until a tight group of three was obtained, reporting the results of the final drop. The testing has now been capped at ten drops, with the mean values of the last five of these being reported. This is partly to protect the operator from repetitive strain where specimens do not quite give the target consistency. The standard drop height is now a set distance, with any other figure reported as a non-standard deviation.

Methods of carrying out compression fatigue testing before repeating the shock tests are outlined, and there are information clauses about impact energy and ‘bottoming out’. Editorial improvements have been made throughout, and there is updated colour imagery including a new figure focusing on the dynamics of the impact, especially thickness, static and dynamic compression, and rebound.

Publishing Data

This article was originally published on page 26 of the September 2025 issue of SATRA Bulletin.

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