Effects of environmental factors on step friction coefficient

In order to decrease the probability of slipping and falling accidents, effects of environmental factors on step friction coefficient were studied on a Mark II slip meter, using common step friction couple materials as samples and several work conditions as test conditions. The result showed that all the factors including materials of frictional couple, test conditions and interactions between two factors had influences on step friction coefficient. Of all the factors, the effect of test conditions was the most significant one. Friction coefficient in dry condition was the highest while that in oil lubricated condition was the lowest and close to zero. Friction coefficients of lubricated conditions except for oil condition had no significant difference. The interactions between two factors indicated that friction coefficients of upper and lower samples kept the same trend when test condition was constant but this trend changed with test condition. The variation of friction coefficients was attributed to the surface feature of materials and the lubrication effect of liquids.