ADHESIVE FRICTION BEHAVIOR OF ROUGH RUBBER SURFACES SLIDING AGAINST SMOOTH RIGID SURFACES

A model for the characterization and prediction of the adhesional friction experienced by a rough rubber surface sliding against a smooth rigid surface using fracture mechanics based peeling behavior is supported by experimental results. The friction is characterized by the strain energy release rate associated with the unpeeling of the asperities. This peeling energy of the rubber and rigid surface interface is used to derive a general relation for the frictional shear stress. Peeling characteristics are first found using rolling experiments, then this information is used to predict the results of sliding experiments. The velocity dependence of the friction is explained by relation to the dynamic viscoelastic properties of the rubber. The experiments compare favorably with the theoretical prediction derived using the model.