It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Tractive force. (Discuss)

It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with factor of adhesion. (Discuss)

Traction is another name for the adhesive friction between two surfaces.^[1][2]

The units of traction are those of force, or if expressed as a coefficient of traction (as with coefficient of friction) a ratio.

Specifically, traction refers to the maximum frictional force that can be produced between surfaces without slipping.^[3]

Contents 1 Traction 2 Coefficient of traction 2.1 Factors affecting tractive coefficient 2.2 Traction coefficient in engineering design 3 See also 4 References

[edit] Traction

Traction is defined as:

..a physical process in which a tangential force is transmitted across an interface between two bodies through dry friction or an intervening fluid film resulting in motion, stoppage or the tranmission of power^[4] (Copyright: "Mechanical Wear Fundamentals and Testing" by Raymond George Bayer)

The traction produced by a vehicle if expressed as a force is synonymous with tractive effort, or tractive force, and closely related to the term drawbar pull.

[edit] Coefficient of traction

The coefficient of traction is defined as the usable force for traction divided by the weight on the running gear (wheels, tracks etc)^[5][6] ie:

Usable Traction = coefficient of Traction x Weight

As the coefficient of traction refers to two surfaces which are not slipping relative to one another it is the same as Coefficient of static friction, also known as limiting friction.

[edit] Factors affecting tractive coefficient

Traction between two surfaces depends on several factors including:

• Material composition of each surface.
• Macroscopic and microscopic shape (texture; macrotexture and microtexture)
• Normal force pressing contact surfaces together.
• Contaminants at the material boundary including lubricants and adhesives.
• Relative motion of tractive surfaces - eg a wheel on gritted ice when in motion may displace the grit and melt the ice - causing loss of traction.

[edit] Traction coefficient in engineering design

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (April 2009)

In the design of wheeled or tracked vehicles, high traction between wheel and ground is more desirable than low traction, as it allows for more energetic acceleration (including cornering and braking) without wheel slippage. One notable exception is in the motorsport technique of drifting, in which rear-wheel traction is purposely lost during high speed cornering.

Other designs dramatically increase surface area to provide more traction than wheels can, such as in continuous track and half-track vehicles.

In some applications, there is a complicated set of trade-offs in choosing materials. For example, soft rubbers often provide better traction but also wear faster and have higher losses when flexed -- thus reducing efficiency. Choices in material selection may have a dramatic effect. For example: tires used for track racing cars may have a life of 200 km, while those used on heavy trucks may have a life approaching 100,000 km. The truck tires have less traction and also thicker rubber.

Traction also varies with contaminants. A layer of water in the contact patch can cause a substantial loss of traction. This is one reason for grooves and siping of automotive tires.

[edit] See also

• Friction
• Force (physics)
• Rail adhesion
• Road slipperiness

[edit] References

1. ^ Traction (definition)merriam-webster.com
2. ^ Traction (definition) thefreedictionary.com
3. ^ Estimating Excavation, Craftsman Book Co, Deryl Burch, 1997, ISBN 0934041962, 9780934041966, Page 215. Google books link: [1]
4. ^ Mechanical Wear Fundamentals and Testing, Raymond George Bayer, CRC Press, ISBN 0824746201, 9780824746209, Page 3. Google books link: [2]
5. ^ Construction Management Fundamentals, Clifford J. Schexnayder, Richard Mayo, McGraw-Hill Professional, 2003, ISBN 0072922001, 9780072922004. Page 346. Google books link [3]
6. ^ Theory of ground vehicles, Jo Yung Wong, ISBN 0471354619, 9780471354611, Page 317. Google books link [4]