On the role of scales in elastomer friction

Abstract

The paper is devoted to a general analysis of friction of elastomers from the point of view of scales contributing to the force of friction. We argue that-contrary to the wide spread opinion-elastomer friction is not a multiscale phenomenon, but is governed mostly by the interplay of only two scales-the largest and the smallest scales of roughness of the contacting bodies. This is illustrated by analyzing the main ideas of the theory of elastomer friction based on the paradigm of Greenwood, Tabor and Grosch. The same conclusions can be obtained from the widely used contact theory proposed by Persson.