https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2009-10484-8
Regular Article
Contact mechanics and rubber friction for randomly rough surfaces with anisotropic statistical properties
1
IFF, FZ-Jülich, D-52425, Jülich, Germany
2
DIMeG - Politecnico di Bari, v.le Japigia 182, 70126, Bari, Italy
3
IFAS, RWTH Aachen University, D-52074, Aachen, Germany
* e-mail: carbone@poliba.it
Received:
21
February
2009
Accepted:
2
June
2009
Published online:
4
July
2009
In this paper we extend the theory of contact mechanics and rubber friction developed by one of us (B.N.J. Persson, J. Chem. Phys. 115, 3840 (2001)) to the case of surfaces with anisotropic surface roughness. As an application we calculate the viscoelastic contribution to the rubber friction. We show that the friction coefficient may depend significantly on the sliding direction, while the area of contact depends weakly on the sliding direction. We have carried out experiments for rubber blocks sliding on unidirectionally polished steel surfaces. The experimental data are in a good qualitative agreement with the theory.
PACS: 46.55.+d Tribology and mechanical contacts – / 81.40.Pq Friction, lubrication, and wear – / 62.40.+i Anelasticity, internal friction, stress relaxation, and mechanical resonances – / 81.05.Lg Polymers and plastics; rubber; synthetic and natural fibers; organometallic and organic materials –
© EDP Sciences, SIF, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, 2009
