The Effect of Dwell Time on the Static Friction in Creeping Elastic–Plastic Polymer Spherical Contact

Abstract

A theoretical model is developed to study the effect of dwell time on the junction growth and static friction of a creeping polymer sphere in contact with a rigid flat under full stick contact condition. A rapid normal loading into the elastic–plastic contact regime is followed by a rest period during which creep takes place causing contact area growth, and stress relaxation that can completely eliminate the plastic zone in the sphere. At the end of this rest time, an increasing tangential loading is applied to the flat till sliding inception occurs. During this loading step, further increase of the contact area and reappearing of a plastic zone in the sphere take place. An increase in static friction resulting from the dwell time during the creep stage is clearly demonstrated and explained.