Improving the understanding of grip

This paper introduces the initial findings from frictional tests of the human finger contact on steel, glass and rubber, as used in the manufacture of rugby balls. The materials were tested using a bespoke finger friction rig, with which the normal and frictional forces are measured when a finger is dynamically moving along a material. The results showed the coefficient of friction of the rugby ball material is much greater than that of glass and steel. The results also show and highlight the differences in the relationship between normal force and coefficient of friction for the viscoclastic and non viscoelastic surface materials, neither of which show linear relationships due to the viscoelastic nature of the finger in contact with them.