Relation between human perceived friction and finger friction characteristics

• Friction variation measurement from a surface modifying its friction level.
• Determination of the smallest friction variation detected by the individuals.
• Identification of a friction criterion linked to the perceived friction.
• Influence of the individuals and the sliding velocity on this criterion.

The topic of this paper concerns the relation between friction perception and finger friction behaviour. Two experiments were processed for some 20 individuals. The aim of the first experiment was to determine the distribution function of the perceived friction variation detected by the individuals, relating to the friction variation of the touched surface generated with a tactile stimulator. The second experiment was to determine the finger friction criterion correlated with the perceived friction variation analysed from psychophysical techniques. This criterion, called the friction contrast, depends on the individual finger and is influenced by the sliding velocity.