Infrared observations of the mechanical performance of tennis strings

摘要

The paper aims to illustrate three advantages of infrared thermography as a non-destructive, non-contact and real time technique (a) to detect the occurrence of intrinsic dissipation localization, (b) to observe the progressive damage processes and mechanisms of tennis string failure, and (c) to determine the optimal tension for each type of string. Experimental results evidence a limit of acceptable damage beyond which strings will fail due to the coalescence of defects and/or weakness zones. In addition, owing to the thermomechanical coupling, this technique provides a simple means for evaluating the wear resistance of strings of interest for skilled tennis players who impart on the ball a great amount of spin combined with a high stroke velocity.