Experimental study on wet skid resistance at different water-film thicknesses

Abstract

Purpose Driving safety on a wet road is closely related to the wet skid resistance of tires. The purpose of this paper is to reveal the evolution of wet skid resistance at different water film thicknesses and provide some guidance on the design of a tread pattern with improved traction on rainy roads. Design/methodology/approach Brake tests are performed in a laboratory with a viscoelastic tribotester at various water film thicknesses. The initial water film thickness is 3 mm, which decreases with an increase in the test number. Brake friction force is dynamically measured at water film thicknesses ranging from 0 mm to 3 mm. Findings The results show that water film thickness exerts a great influence on the forms of tire motion and slip ratio. The tire is much easier to slide on the road with thick water film and also with a considerably thin water film (about 0-1 mm) during a sharp braking process. The brake traction can be very low under this road condition despite the apparently safe quality of the road. Originality/value The authors design and establish a new viscoelastic tribotester which is used to simulate the real braking sliding process and study the tribological properties between tire rubber and road surface. The variation in the wet friction coefficient and slip ratio at different water film thicknesses have a great influence on the design of a tread pattern with improved traction on rainy roads.