Why spike high stiletto heels damage floors and the real math and Mojo?

Answer 1

So, down to Heels & Floors. (In no particular order).

1. I read one great post on figuring the pressure under heels, but he was TOO smart for the average reader, so let's just pick four heel sizes (tip size) and go with that!

2. Heels: 1/4" square tip, 1/4" round tip, 3/16" round tip, 5/16" x 5/16" square tip. Dividing is always hard than multiplying, so I use the "Force Factor"...If you have ONE pound on the heel, how much pressure beneath the heel on your floor. For the four heels listed:

a. 1/4x1/4 sq = 16

b. 1/4 round = 20

c. 3/16 round = 36

d. 5/16 x 5/16 = 10.25

So, if a woman places 50 lbs on a heel tip, say 1/4 round, the psi is 1,000 psi.

But now we need to talk weight distribution, heel material, heel edges, walking, striding, standing (1 or 2 feet), or leaning, twisting, and pounding!

I lhave one friend, so into heels, she wears two pairs a day - one to work, one after work. She's 5'11', a rock-solid 190 (your basic amazon). We built a system to measure weight on heel vs toe. In her more killer heels, she stands way heel heavy!!

So, 70% of 190 = 133 lbs on her heel tip, assuming all her weight on one foot. like it might be at a party hanging out.

Let's take the 1/4" round heel = 20 x 133 = 2,660 psi. If she does a heel-stand, which she does without even thinking, the psi is 20 x 190 = 3800 psi.

If we go to her ultra-thin kitten heels, 3/16" diameter:

133 x 36 = 4,788 psi and heelstand at 33 x 190 = 6,270 psi.

We aren't done yet -- a woman slowly walking in heels exerts more pressure than standing but not as much as what we call a Full Stride!!

We measured her walking across a scale, not the most scientific, but not unreasonable. In stocking feet she added about 50% of her weight -- so now we have about 190 x 150% = 285 lbs hitting on...on what??? Well, we bought some soft wood to experiment, and her heels hit just off flat...so now let's look at the numbers...look out!

Assuming for an instant you get all weight on the heel tip: 36 x 285 = 10,260

Now, it gets tricky -- looking at the deep holes she left in our test piece, you can see an angle to the impact point...so maybe only 75% of the heel tips hits for that instant

now look: 10,260/0.75 = 13,680 psi...hmmmm!!!! Wow!!

OK...that's the Amazon Factor, and I can count 13 friends who are 5'10 to 6'2" that weigh 200 to 220 who wear thin high heels, many times under classic tailored black pants, and you don't even know they're there!

Even my 125 lb friend, who walks really hard can cenerate 125x1.5x36/0.75 = 9000 psi.

So, now what???? There are heel tips made of hard plastic, rubber, or steel. Some have a great 90 degree edge when new, that will really leave a clean imprint -- say a thin black spike for New Year's Eve party...brand new, to look hot...!! If it's a steel tip, even deadlier to soft floors!

Now, we haven't even got to parties where dancing commences and there's drinking -- remember: Women + Heels + Shots = DON'T CARE ABOUT ANYTHING

So, you can't even begien to calculate howmuch damage 4 to 6 girls dancing in heels can do...especially line dances, and LEFT FOOT TWO STOMPS!

I'm running out of steam, but let me press on! OK...worn-out heels -- down to the nails!!! Forget it!!! Force Factor from 35 to 50 easily... even a medium 150 lb woman will put a minimum of 150/2 = 75 lbs (on two feet)...say 60% on heel, so ,6x75=45 lbs on either heel tip...but 45 x 50 force factor = 2250 psi...if she puts all weight on one foot (not one heel), just one foot...4500psi...so nails do the most indenting vased on math and experience. Now, you might say the woman HAS TO NOTICIE since she's balancing on that nail...wroing...the nail is sunk in the floor and theheel tip is flush with the floor, she feels nothing but a regular step.

Women standing around yacking shift weight all the time, you could pick up 60 dents in 5 mins easily...dancing?? We did anexperiment on our test piece -- average dancing was about 90 marks in 60 seconds....let's do that math

90 marks per minute per woman

6 women dancing at party

5 songs before everyone has to go potty

4 mins per song

90x20x6 = 10,800 heel marks in 20 mins...watch for that dance party!!

Now, do women realize they might be leaving marks -- probably 50% do. Would they take off their heels? About 0.5% might, most wouldn't. and it's not being mean or anyting...they JUST LOVE THEIR HEELS!!!!

Would a woman wear heels she knows in advance will leave dents or splinter the wood?? If it matches the outfit -- probably!! or if they're good clubbing shoes for goingout later, no doubt!!

Of course, my sampling of women is skewed -- I focus on cocky & confident & ornery women in heels for friends, so maybe my %'s are off, but my math is on!

And, of course, some women are clueless about what damage their heels are causing!! These are the ones that will walk on nails to save money to buy more heels.

so, after all this rattletrapping, now what???

If you have nice floors, no big parties, period! At least not around holidays when folks dress up!!! Plus, dropped food crushed into your carpert...???

I built my house with high-pressure 13 or 14-mill laminate -- no problem...basement floor is like Best Buy..no problem!! I even built a portable dance floor of soft wood -- why??? to check how much more damage after each dance party...and the women love it, always wearing deadliest heels!!!

so, did I answer everything??

When you're trying to figure out heel forces you need:

1. her weight

2. % of weight on heel tip

3. walking or standing

4. heel tip dimensions to get sq inches, then hit "1/x" calculator for Force Factor

5. plastic or steel tips, or nails?? How thin a nail???