J.D. Byerlee
1967
<div class="hlFld-Abstract"><div class="NLM_paragraph">A theory of<span> </span>friction<span> </span>is presented that may be more applicable to<span> </span>geologic<span> </span>materials<span> </span>than the classic Bowden and Tabor theory. In the model, surfaces touch at the peaks of asperities and sliding occurs when the asperities fail by<span> </span>brittle<span> </span>fracture.<span> </span>The coefficient of<span> </span>friction,<span> </span>μ, was calculated from the strength of asperities of certain ideal shapes; for cone‐shaped asperities, μ is about 0.1 and for wedge‐shaped asperities, μ is about 0.15. For actual situations which seem close to the ideal model, observed μ was found to be very close to 0.1, even for<span> </span>materials<span> </span>such as<span> </span>quartz<span> </span>and calcite with widely differing strengths. If surface forces are present, the theory predicts that μ should decrease with load and that it should be higher in a vacuum than in air. In the presence of a fluid film between sliding surfaces, μ should depend on the area of the surfaces in contact. Both effects are observed. The character of wear particles produced during sliding and the way in which μ depends on normal load, roughness, and environment lend further support to the model of<span> </span>friction<span> </span>presented here.</div></div>
application/pdf
10.1063/1.1710026
en
AIP
Theory of friction based on brittle fracture
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