Wear Observation of Shoe Surfaces: Application for Slip and Fall Safety Assessments

Abstract

Shoe surfaces are continuously changed during pedestrian ambulation. Such changes include significant damage mechanism of shoe soles/heels, but their importance, fundamental perception, and effects on slip-resistance properties have hardly been discussed in the literature. This study aimed to understand wear development on shoe surfaces and identify its impact on pedestrian walkway slip-resistance performance. A wear concept and theory model were suggested to explore the underlying tribological characteristics of the shoe surfaces. Dynamic friction tests were conducted between two double-density polyurethane shoes and ceramic tiles. Wear formation and development on the shoe surfaces were quantitatively and qualitatively examined by surface roughness parameters and microscopic observations before and after the tests. Overall results clearly showed that the topographic structures of the shoe surfaces were largely changed by a series of wear mechanisms such as abrasion, ploughing, adhesion, and fatigue. This study suggests that future research on slip and fall incidents should pay close attention to the issue of the wear behaviors of shoe surfaces and their impact on slip-resistance performance. Findings from this study may have potential implications to improve design concepts for shoe soles/heels in order to reduce slip and fall hazards.