Study on the formation of periodic ridges on the rubber surface by friction and wear monitoring

A rubber wheel was rubbed against a steel cylinder in order to investigate ridge formation in the course of pattern abrasion. Distribution maps of the coefficient of friction and worn surface profile along the circumference of the rubber wheel were made throughout the experiment by monitoring friction and wear during sliding. The coefficient of friction had a stripe-like variation with stripes translating parallel to each other in the contrary direction of rubber sliding. The worn surface profile, measured using a laser profile meter, had a stripe-like variation with stripes combining each other. The movement rate of ridges was calculated from the gradient of each stripe-like variation in the maps. The ridges remained until the steady state moved faster than the combined ridges before reaching the steady state. The difference between ridge movement rates was the source of the ridge combination phenomenon.