Research

Friction Behaviour of Rubber

Principal investigator: James BUSFIELD
Close up of the rubber surface and the rigid indentor.

This project builds upon the earlier work done in the group (Gabriel) to investigate the fundamental frictional properties between rubber materials and rigid surfaces. The project examines how friction behaviour depends upon compounding with nanoparticles, surface roughness, sliding speed, temperature and surface preparation. The project uses a range of finite element analysis modelling techniques and other experimental methods to observe how phemomenon such as the microvibrations at the surface and the Schallamach waves are formed during sliding.