Abstract: A device (1) for simulating the behaviour of a mammalian limb, in particular that of an equine mammal, on the ground, includes an impactor (5) in contact with the ground and intended to compress the ground. The device has a mass (7) movable along a vertical rectilinear axis, a sensor (9) for measuring the vertical force applied to the impactor, and a device (10) for measuring the penetration of the impactor in the ground, under the effect of the movement of the mass (7). The device can include a vertical shaft connected to the impactor at its lower end, and also one or more stops placed on one or more vertical rods along which the mass moves, the one or more vertical rods being connected to the vertical shaft by one or more elastic members.

Abstract: A method for determining the state of tension of a material at a given time, including the step of calculating the value of at least one parameter extracted from the ultrasonic signal received after propagation of an ultrasonic wave emitted in the material between an ultrasound source and at least an ultrasound emitter located at a fixed distance from the source, the value of the at least one parameter varying with the state of tension of the material, the variation of the at least one parameter being proportional or inversely proportional to the variation of the state of tension of the material.

Abstract: Method to determine the tension condition of a material at a given time, comprising one step during which one calculates the value of at least one parameter extracted from the ultrasonic signal received after propagation of an ultrasonic wave transmitted in said material between an ultrasound source and at least one ultrasound transmitter situated at a fixed predetermined distance from said source, the value of the parameter(s) varying with the tension condition of the material, said variation of the parameter(s) being proportional or reversely proportional to the variation in the tension condition of said material.