Friction of an Elastic Solid

Abstract

A study in terms of elastic asperity theory is made of the empirical frictional relation F=αRn where F and R are frictional force and normal reaction respectively, α is a coefficient of friction and n a friction index. Three different contact cases are treated: (i) plane surfaces, (ii) cylindrical surfaces, (iii) a string round a cylinder. Expressions are derived for F (or the tension in case (iii)) in terms of R and the size, number and elastic constants of the asperities. This enables the frictional `constants' to be related to these properties.