Device for determining the friction coefficient of soles

The sole friction coefficient machine consists of mechanical, electronic and control units integrated into a compact system. It uses a pneumatic drive and angular clamping elements to press and fix the sole in the range of -20° to +20°, with clamping forces from 100 to 750 N controlled by graphical user interfaces. Friction is measured during simulated slip, induced by a linear unit with a ball screw and servo motor, allowing a test speed of 0.01 to 0.3 m/s. Two sets of strain gauges with a range of 0–1 kN and an accuracy of 0.25% capture the friction forces. The device supports variable substrate settings and can simulate icy surfaces using a refrigeration unit with an evaporator and compressor. The data is used and exported via a graphical PC-based interface.