A friction sensor for real-time measurement of friction coefficient on moving flexible surfaces

Measurement of coefficient of friction between surfaces is of interest in numerous engineering applications. While laboratory tests of material samples in tribological systems are used to measure friction coefficient, on-line friction measurement on newly manufactured surfaces, or between two interacting surfaces of interest, is non-existent. A new class of sensor, called, the tribosensor has been developed and is presented here that accomplishes real-time friction coefficient measurement between materials, where one of the two materials in the tribological pair is being processed or manufactured, and in high speed motion such as paper, plastics, aluminum, and other flexible materials. This paper discusses the mechanics fundamentals for the design, performance of the sensor, correlation with traditional laboratory measurements, and applications.