Sliding friction at elastomer/glass contact: Influence of the wetting conditions and instability analysis

The aim of this paper is to simulate and give a better understanding of the behavior of rubber blade/windscreen contact: the friction behavior of the rubber/glass contact, the wiping quality and the characterization of friction instabilities are investigated. Therefore, the tribological prospect of a rough natural compound rubber sliding over a smooth glass in various wetting conditions is analyzed. This study is carried out using a modified elastohydrodynamic tribometer that allows us to investigate the rubber dynamical behavior under controlled conditions, thanks to the coupling of dedicated dynamical sensors and the contact visualization. Wetting conditions are varied as the impact of velocity and normal load is studied and a specific interest has been given to the transition between wet and dry regimes. Frictional instabilities are observed and correlated to the contact vibrations.