Friction of soft elastomeric wrinkled surfaces

We evaluate the sliding of a rigid spherical lens over a surface-wrinkled, elastomeric substrate. Sliding is conducted both parallel and perpendicular to the aligned surface wrinkles, and the sliding force is compared to the required sliding forces on nonwrinkled surfaces. We evaluate the effects of wrinkle dimensions and applied normal force on the sliding resistance. A simple Bowden–Tabor friction model can describe the dependence of the sliding force on normal load, with different coefficients of friction associated with the nonwrinkled and wrinkled surfaces both perpendicular and parallel. The aspect ratio of the wrinkles has a secondary effect on the sliding force. We associate the changes in friction to changes in the tangential stiffness and fracture angle caused by the surface wrinkles.