Understanding the tribological interactions between shoe and floor materials is important in order to enhance shoe and floor design and to prevent slip and fall accidents during walking. In the present investigation, experiments were conducted using a custom developed pin-on-disk type tribometer to understand the influence of boundary and hydrodynamic properties on the shoe-floor materials’ coefficient of friction. Specifically, polyurethane shoe material was slid against vinyl floor material in the presence of varying lubricants (i.e., water, detergent, three diluted glycerol concentrations, and canola oil). The experiments were conducted for a range of biologically relevant sliding velocities from 0.05 m sec−1 to 1.0 m sec−1 at a contact pressure of 266.1 kPa under ambient conditions. The fluid chemical composition appeared to affect the boundary friction coefficient with longer-chain molecules resulting in a decreased coefficient of friction. As fluid viscosity increased, the rate of coefficient of friction decay increased with respect to increasing fluid entrainment velocity, suggesting less material contact and increased film thickness. The nondimensional film thickness under all conditions was calculated and the nondimensional film thickness consistently increased with increased viscosity and speed. Additionally, the effect of functionally achievable variations in polyurethane shoe roughness on the coefficient of friction was examined and found to have no statistically significant effect on boundary or hydrodynamic contributions to the coefficient of friction.
Skip Nav Destination
e-mail: beschorn@uwm.edu
Article navigation
October 2012
Applications
Analysis of Shoe Friction During Sliding Against Floor Material: Role of Fluid Contaminant
Caitlin T. Moore,
Caitlin T. Moore
Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
, Milwaukee, WI
53201
Search for other works by this author on:
Pradeep L. Menezes,
Pradeep L. Menezes
Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
, Milwaukee, WI
53201
Search for other works by this author on:
Michael R. Lovell,
Michael R. Lovell
Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
, Milwaukee, WI
53201
Search for other works by this author on:
Kurt E. Beschorner
e-mail: beschorn@uwm.edu
Kurt E. Beschorner
Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
, Milwaukee, WI
53201
Search for other works by this author on:
Caitlin T. Moore
Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
, Milwaukee, WI
53201
Pradeep L. Menezes
Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
, Milwaukee, WI
53201
Michael R. Lovell
Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
, Milwaukee, WI
53201
Kurt E. Beschorner
Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
, Milwaukee, WI
53201e-mail: beschorn@uwm.edu
J. Tribol. Oct 2012, 134(4): 041104 (7 pages)
Published Online: September 4, 2012
Article history
Received:
March 24, 2011
Revised:
June 23, 2012
Online:
September 4, 2012
Published:
September 4, 2012
Citation
Moore, C. T., Menezes, P. L., Lovell, M. R., and Beschorner, K. E. (September 4, 2012). "Analysis of Shoe Friction During Sliding Against Floor Material: Role of Fluid Contaminant." ASME. J. Tribol. October 2012; 134(4): 041104. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4007346
Download citation file:
Get Email Alerts
Leakage Control Mechanisms and Strategies for Hydraulically Driven Controllable Rod Seals
J. Tribol (April 2025)
Flow Characteristics of Asymmetric Plunger Pairs in High-Pressure Plunger Pumps
J. Tribol (April 2025)
Related Articles
Tri-Axial Force Measurements on the Cylinder of a Motored SI Engine Operated on Lubricants of Differing Viscosity
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power (September,2010)
Bioderived Fuel Blend Dilution of Marine Engine Oil and Impact on Friction and Wear Behavior
J. Tribol (April,2016)
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Chapters
Materials
Design and Application of the Worm Gear
Incremental Model Adjustment
Nonlinear Regression Modeling for Engineering Applications: Modeling, Model Validation, and Enabling Design of Experiments
Chapter 46 | Lubrication Fundamentals
Fuels and Lubricants Handbook: Technology, Properties, Performance, and Testing