The effect of longitudinal tangential vibrations on friction and driving forces in sliding motion

The main purpose of the work has been to qualitatively and quantitatively analyse the influence of longitudinal tangential vibrations on friction and driving forces in a sliding motion. Computational models were developed and implemented in a combined Matlab-Simulink environment. Both the dynamic Dahl's and the Dupont's and classical Coulomb's friction models were used. The influence of vibration velocity amplitude on the friction force in the presence of tangential longitudinal vibrations and on reduction of the driving force in sliding motion was analysed. It revealed that the commonly accepted view that the reduction of the average friction force is a consequence of cyclic changes in the sign of the friction force vector, only when the amplitude of vibration velocity is greater than the sliding motion velocity, is erroneous. The phenomenon was also observed without any changes in the sign of friction force vector. The results of simulations were compared with experimental data obtained with the use of a test rig specifically designed for the work. The Dahl's friction model led to the best correlation.

► Tangential vibrations can significantly decrease driving force in sliding motion.
► Driving force reduction in sliding does not require changes of friction force sign.
► Accurate calculation of friction force runs requires knowledge of contact stiffness.
► The use of Dahl's model enables numerical control of friction force in sliding motion.
► Driving force level can be controlled by changes of vibration amplitude or frequency.