🚀 go-pugleaf

jjahiel@prairienet.org (Jessica Jahiel) wrote:
>
> larson eric (elarson@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu) wrote:
> :Why not mist water onto the belt?
> 
> 
> Seems like a good plan -- I've seen some reports of underwater treadmill 
> work, and this kind of friction problem wasn't mentioned ;-)  or maybe it 
> was just because galloping underwater wasn't possible.  

Alternately, get a more conductive material for the belt.
Preferably in conjunction with a LESS conductive material for
the nails.

As a rule these sorts of thermal management problems require a
multifaceted approach: reduce the generation of heat inthe first
place, conduct it away from the source, insulate it from the
vulnerable points, and cool them as needed.

The high temperatures in the shoes and hooves indicates that
much of the impact energy is being dissipated there.  Going to
a more-compliant and lossier material underfoot would shift
heat dissipation from the hooves to the belt.

Since the belt temperature is not rising nearly as far as the
shoe temperature, it's pretty clear that there isn't efficient
thermal transfer between the shoes and the belt.  (Has anyone
tried measuring the temperatures of shoes on a long outdoor
run?  Any bets that this turns out to be one of the limiting
factors on the range at speed of hooved critters?)

Offhand I'd suggest switching to a soft silicone-over-steel belt
system, in conjunction with active cooling for the belt rollers
and a less-conductive shoe attachment method.  Maybe it's time
for some up-to-date adhesives there.