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Unified Theory of Rubber and Tire Friction.

PB184487

Publication Date	1966
Personal Author	Kummer, H. W.
Page Count	152
Abstract	A unified theory is developed to explain the frictional behavior of rubber sliders and skidding and slipping tires, based on the observation that the damping and elastic properties of rubber affect the two principal components of rubber friction in a similar manner. It is suggested (1) that adhesion is the result of periodic excitation of the rubber chains by the making and breaking of molecular bonds, and the dissipation of energy by the stretched and relaxing polymer structure; and (2) that hysteresis is the consequence of periodic agitation of the polymer structure by the geometric roughness of a rigid surface. The theory makes it possible to explain the pronounced dependence of rubber friction on sliding speed and temperature by the likewise pronounced frequency and temperature dependence of the loss and elastic moduli of rubber. Several steps are suggested which, taken alone or together, should improve the frictional coupling between tires and wet road surfaces, particularly at high speeds.
Keywords	Rubber Tires Mechanical properties Friction Theory Skidding Surface properties Temperature Wetting Elasticity Sliding contacts Adhesion Pavements Hysteresis Velocity Molecular properties
NTIS Subject Category	71H - Elastomers 46E - Structural Mechanics
Corporate Authors	Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park. Coll. of Engineering
Document Type	Technical Report
Title Note	Bulletin.
NTIS Issue Number	196916

Unified Theory of Rubber and Tire Friction.

Unified Theory of Rubber and Tire Friction.
PB184487

Publication Date	1966
Personal Author	Kummer, H. W.
Page Count	152
Abstract	A unified theory is developed to explain the frictional behavior of rubber sliders and skidding and slipping tires, based on the observation that the damping and elastic properties of rubber affect the two principal components of rubber friction in a similar manner. It is suggested (1) that adhesion is the result of periodic excitation of the rubber chains by the making and breaking of molecular bonds, and the dissipation of energy by the stretched and relaxing polymer structure; and (2) that hysteresis is the consequence of periodic agitation of the polymer structure by the geometric roughness of a rigid surface. The theory makes it possible to explain the pronounced dependence of rubber friction on sliding speed and temperature by the likewise pronounced frequency and temperature dependence of the loss and elastic moduli of rubber. Several steps are suggested which, taken alone or together, should improve the frictional coupling between tires and wet road surfaces, particularly at high speeds.
Keywords	Rubber Tires Mechanical properties Friction Theory Skidding Surface properties Temperature Wetting Elasticity Sliding contacts Adhesion Pavements Hysteresis Velocity Molecular properties
NTIS Subject Category	71H - Elastomers 46E - Structural Mechanics
Corporate Authors	Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park. Coll. of Engineering
Document Type	Technical Report
Title Note	Bulletin.
NTIS Issue Number	196916