"Tuning frictional behavior on the fly has been a long-standing engineering dream. This new insight into how surface geometry governs slip pulses paves the way for tunable frictional metamaterials that can transition from low-friction to high-grip states on demand."
"The squeaking of sneakers on a gym floor is usually attributed to friction, specifically a stick-slip variety that involves cycles of sticking and sliding between two surfaces. But that model is best suited for interfaces involving two rigid objects, such as squeaking door hinges. Sneaker soles sliding across a gym floor involves one hard object and one soft one."
Scientists discovered that basketball shoe tread patterns determine the frequency of squeaking sounds on court surfaces. By understanding this relationship, researchers created rubber blocks with specific tread geometries that produced controlled frequencies, successfully playing Star Wars' "Imperial March" by sliding them across glass. This breakthrough reveals how surface geometry governs slip pulses between soft and hard materials, enabling development of tunable frictional metamaterials that can switch between low-friction and high-grip states. The friction dynamics observed parallel those of tectonic faults, providing new insights into earthquake mechanics. The research builds on tribology principles dating to Leonardo da Vinci's 15th-century friction studies.
Read at Ars Technica
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]