Linear stability of steady sliding in point contacts with velocity dependent and LuGre type friction

In the present work the influence of a LuGre type friction law [cf. to C. Canudas de Wit, H. Olsson, K.J. Aström, P. Lischinsky, A new model for control of systems with friction, IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control 40 (1995) 419] on the fundamental mechanisms resulting in linear instability of steady sliding in point contacts is investigated. Both a velocity-dependent kinetic friction coefficient as well as mode-coupling are considered. It turns out that the destabilizing effect of a kinetic friction coefficient decreasing with relative sliding velocity reduces when the rate-dependent effects of LuGre type friction become marked. Mode-coupling instability however seems to remain largely unaffected.