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Self-Amplification of Solid Friction in Interleaved Assemblies.

Héctor Alarcón1,2, Thomas Salez2, Christophe Poulard1

  • 1Laboratoire de Physique des Solides, CNRS & Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 91405 Orsay Cedex, France.

Physical Review Letters
|January 23, 2016
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Separating interleaved phone books is difficult due to solid friction. This study models the force required, showing it increases with sheet count and collapses onto a master curve, aiding friction measurement in complex systems.

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Area of Science:

  • Physics
  • Materials Science
  • Tribology

Background:

  • Interleaved complex assemblies, like phone books, exhibit significant resistance to separation.
  • The underlying physics of solid friction in such multi-sheet systems is not fully understood.
  • This phenomenon presents a familiar yet scientifically intriguing challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate and quantify the friction forces involved in separating interleaved sheets.
  • To develop a predictive model for the force required to separate complex assemblies.
  • To establish a framework for precise friction measurement in low-load scenarios.

Main Methods:

  • Conducted experiments using controlled booklets with varying numbers of sheets.
  • Systematically analyzed the influence of sheet count, thickness, and overlap distance on separation force.
  • Developed a physical model incorporating these parameters.

Main Results:

  • The force required to separate interleaved sheets increases sharply with the number of sheets.
  • Experimental data collapsed onto a universal self-similar master curve.
  • A dimensionless amplification parameter was identified, characterizing the system's friction behavior.

Conclusions:

  • The study provides a quantitative understanding of solid friction in interleaved complex assemblies.
  • The developed model accurately predicts separation forces and offers a method for measuring friction coefficients.
  • This research has implications for understanding friction in diverse systems, from macroscopic to nanoscale assemblies.