When a glass lens was slid on a soft and smooth rubber, some conditions for the appearance of waves of detachment were established. The profile of the deformed rubber surface and the propagation of the waves were studied using an optical microscope. The waves of detachment appear when the sliding speed is higher than a critical speed
vc, and the critical speed decreases with increasing an applied load. After propagation of the waves crossing the contact area the relative displacement between the two frictional members was occured. The fluctuation of the friction occured repeatedly accompanied with the passage of the waves.
Even at low speeds when the waves do not run, the rear part of the contact area loses the contact and after that the circular contact was regained. The rear detachment was observed periodically. The deformation of the rear edge was also observed at higher speeds when the waves were appeared.
The propagating speeds of the detachment waves are faster at higher sliding speeds and higher loads. The number of detachment waves formed in unit sliding distance increases at higher sliding speeds and lower loads.
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