The present work studies the influence of rubber tread width and direction of motion on the friction coefficient displayed by the sliding of rubber against ceramic flooring. Experiments were carried out to measure the friction force exerted by rubber of different tread width considering the motion direction.
Based on the experimental findings, it was found that the effect of sliding direction on friction coefficient displayed by the tested rubber sliding against ceramics was significant due to the amount of rubber deflection. Besides, in the presence of water film, the ability of the groove to store the fluid was responsible for the variation of the values of friction coefficient. Sand particles strongly affected the contact, while water facilitates the motion of sand particles so that their effect was much pronounced. Oil decreased the adhesion between rubber and ceramic and consequently rubber deformation decreased.
Friction coefficient displayed by the tested rubber sliding against dry ceramics significantly increased up to maximum then decreased with increasing groove width. In the presence of water, friction coefficient decreased down to minimum then increased with increasing groove width. Surfaces contaminated by sand particles showed the same trend of friction coefficient observed for water. The values of friction coefficient were much higher than that shown for water sliding. Friction coefficient, displayed by the tested rubber sliding against water and sand contaminated ceramics represented relatively lower values than that observed for sand contaminated sliding. When the oil was covering the sliding surfaces, friction coefficient increased up to maximum then decreased with increasing groove width.