Quantify energy dissipation due to crack opening at asperity edges

Characterize and quantify the energy dissipation associated with opening and closing cracks at asperity edges during rubber sliding on surfaces with small roughness and determine its impact on the total friction force.

Background

Adhesion at the rubber–substrate interface can create opening and closing cracks at asperity edges during sliding. Due to adhesion hysteresis, more energy is dissipated at opening than recovered at closing, potentially adding a significant friction component for smooth or slightly rough surfaces.

Although multiscale roughness often suppresses adhesion-related mechanisms on very rough surfaces, their role on smoother surfaces remains uncertain. A rigorous quantification would clarify when this dissipation channel is relevant and how it should be included in predictive friction models.