Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Sliding friction of rubber

  • Letter
  • Published:

From Nature

View current issue Submit your manuscript

Abstract

WE report experiments demonstrating that it is possible to predict quantitatively the level of friction arising when a smooth rubber sphere slides on glass. Analysis of the sliding friction is based on a surface energy approach. Observations show that when a smooth rubber surface advances over glass by a continuous peel process (Schallamach waves) the work done in the region of contact can be calculated in terms of a rate-dependent surface energy and thus an expression found for the tangential frictional stress required to maintain uniform relative motion between the surfaces. In some cases predicted and observed frictional stresses agree to within 10%.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Schallamach, A., Wear, 17, 301–312 (1971).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Barquins, M., and Courtel, R., Wear, 32, 133–150 (1975).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Gent, A. N., Wear, 29, 111–116 (1974).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Roberts, A. D., and Thomas, A. G., Wear, 33, 45–64 (1975).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Kendall, K., J. Polym. Sci. A2, 12, 295–301 (1974).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Gent, A. N., and Petrich, R. P., Proc. R. Soc., A 310, 433–448 (1969).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. Andrews, E. H., and Kinloch, A. J., J. Polym. Sci. A2, 11, 269–273 (1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Gent, A. N., and Schultz, J., Proc. Int. Rubber Conf., paper C1 (IRI, London, 1972).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Roberts, A. D., J. Phys. D., 4, 423–432 (1971).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  10. Roberts, A. D., Eng. Mater. Des., 11, 579–580 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Johnson, K. L., Kendall, K., and Roberts, A. D., Proc. R. Soc., A 324, 301–313 (1971).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Malaysian Rubber Producers' Research Association, Brickendonbury, Hertford, SG13 8NP, UK

    A. D. ROBERTS & S. A. JACKSON

Authors
  1. A. D. ROBERTS
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. A. JACKSON
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

ROBERTS, A., JACKSON, S. Sliding friction of rubber. Nature 257, 118–120 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1038/257118a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/257118a0

  • Springer Nature Limited

This article is cited by

Search

Navigation