Rubber friction on icy pavement: Experiments and modeling

This work presents a comprehensive study of the performance of rubber on icy pavement both experimentally and theoretically. The experimental tests involve four different rubber tread compounds and two pavement surfaces exhibiting different roughness characteristics. Tests are carried out at three different background temperatures ranging from −5 to −20 °C, and at the sliding speed at 40 km/h. The viscoelastic properties of the rubber specimens are quantified using dynamic mechanical analysis. The surface morphology of pavement is measured using X-ray CT unit. Ice condition were simulated by wetting the cold samples, and then the friction coefficients were measured. Finally, a numerical model for predicting the friction on icy pavement is developed based on energy conservation and computational fluid dynamics. The elaborate model exhibits very satisfactory predictive capabilities. The study shows the importance of surface texture for molding the friction on icy pavement. Furthermore, a strong indication can be provided that the skid resistance of pavement under icy condition in field could be measured without contact in the future.