Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 16, 2026
10:01
In Situ High Pressure Hydrogen Tribological Testing of Common Polymer Materials Used in the Hydrogen Delivery Infrastructure
Published on: March 31, 2018
Validation of walkway tribometers: establishing a reference standard
Christopher M Powers1, Mark G Blanchette, John R Brault
1Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Research Laboratory, Division of Biokinesiology & Physical Therapy, University of Southern California, 1540 E. Alcazar St., CHP-155, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA. powers@usc.edu
Journal of Forensic Sciences
|January 28, 2010
Summary
This study established a reference standard for walkway slipperiness using human gait. Only four of eleven tested tribometers accurately ranked surfaces, highlighting the need for validated slip-resistance measurement tools.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Biomechanics
- Occupational Safety
Background:
- Tribometers measure walkway coefficient of friction (COF) to assess slip risk.
- Standardized methods are needed to validate tribometer performance in slip hazard assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define a tribometer reference standard for walkway slipperiness.
- To evaluate the performance of various tribometers against this standard.
Main Methods:
- Eighty subjects walked on four wet walkway surfaces (granite, porcelain, vinyl, ceramic) to establish relative slipperiness.
- Eleven tribometers measured and ranked the COF of these surfaces.
Main Results:
- Only four of the 11 tribometers (Wessex pendulum, Sigler pendulum, Mark II, Mark III) met compliance criteria.
- These compliant tribometers correctly ranked all surfaces and differentiated varying slipperiness levels.
Conclusions:
- Human gait-based slipperiness measures can create reliable reference standards.
- Validated tribometer performance is crucial for accurate slip risk assessment.
