Reducing Friction Forces by Means of Applied Vibration

Abstract

Abstract It has been observed that inducing vibration into structures can reduce the friction force between two sliding objects. This phenomenon has been used in positioning systems and recently was investigated in relation to various machining processes. The present paper brings an experimental work where a wide range of vibrating patterns is introduced to a surface on which a rigid mass is forced to slide. It has been observed that the dynamics of the involved mechanical components has an important role in the determination of the friction force. Structural optimization has been used to efficiently convey a large amount of energy to the mechanical surface to a degree that a combination of a squeeze film and the enlargement of the mean gap between the sliding surfaces reduce the friction force by orders of magnitude. Explanation of the involved physical phenomena alongside with experimental evidence will be presented to support the proposed theory.