An attempt to evaluate real contact area by a comb-shaped electrode

Abstract

There are the friction melting theory and adhesion theory to explain snow friction in Skiing. Comprehending presence or absence of melting water and size of real contact area is important to clarify mechanism of snow friction. In this study, evaluating the real contact area on opaque object is attempted by dielectric properties of snow with comb-shaped electrode. In this paper, dielectric properties of comb-shaped electrode are analyzed by a finite element analysis of electromagnetic field. Preliminary experiment has been conducted with silicone rubber and sodium chloride instead of snow. A comb-shaped electrode and a polarizing microscope are used to measure real contact area in this experiment.