Abstract
A hybrid experimental-computational approach is proposed for frictional characterization of elastomers and elastomeric composites. An axisymmetric indentor is pressed into a thick slab of elastomer and resistance to the indentor's axial torsion is experimentally measured. Similar numerical analysis is performed based on FEA to predict the same torsional resistance due to friction at contact surface. Finally, unknown frictional properties are statistically evaluated by matching the corresponding experimental and numerical predictions of the torque under different levels of compression, angular speed, etc. Implementation of the approach is shown for representative elastomeric materials, where coefficient of friction (COF) is analyzed as a nonlinear function of contact pressure and approximated by a polynomial series. The effect of angular speed on frictional properties is experimentally observed and quantified in a simple form. The generalization of the approach, accounting for the effect of friction on contact pressure, is proposed in the form of an iterative procedure. The sensitivity of COF on contact pressure is experimentally observed.
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