Study of the Test Method to Determine Rubber-Icy Road Friction

A simulating test method to determine the friction behavior of an automobile rubber tire on an icy road was established based on a newly developed test rig for the tire rubber-icy road surface friction measurement. Thus the friction test methods at high and low sliding speed regions were introduced. A series of friction tests were carried out at different slip velocity, vertical pressure, and temperature, and the test data were fitted and analyzed using a simulation model. It was found that the rubber used for tire as a special kind of material showed specific friction behavior, i.e., its friction behavior was not obeyed to Coulomb law. The mechanical performance of the tire was closely related to its friction behavior, which was especially so under severe conditions.