ISSN: 0090-3973
Published Online: 6 December 2004
Page Count: 5

Test Foot Contact Time Effects in Pedestrian Slip-Resistance Metrology
Smith, RH
Engineer, National Forensic Engineers, Inc., WA

(Received 9 December 2004; accepted 23 July 2004)

Abstract

Pedestrian slip-resistance metrology involves the use of tribometers employing test feet on test surfaces. This paper investigates the hypothesis that measured static slip-resistance on smooth walkways increases with test foot contact time, as has been found for coefficient-of-friction testing between smooth metals. Earlier slip-resistance testing by others, as well as results from testing in the present investigation, is consistent with this hypothesis. Some tribometers cannot control contact time. If the contact-time hypothesis is correct, reproducible results cannot be obtained from such devices. The mechanism accounting for increased metallic friction with contact time, as well as its possible applicability to slip-resistance tribometry, is discussed.

Keywords:
slip resistance, tribometers, contact time, metallic friction, nonmetallic friction

Paper ID: JTE11807
DOI: 10.1520/JTE11807
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