Hand operated tribometer versus twin disc dry friction characteristics measurements

Accurate friction-slip modelling is particularly important for locomotive traction and rail damage studies. This paper compares friction-slip measurement results from a hand operated (HO) tribometer and a twin disc tribomachine on AS60 rail. The results were used to calibrate traction coefficient-slip curves using the Modified Fastsim contact model. The differences between the two friction measuring instruments including scale, speed, and rail cleaning effect influenced the friction coefficient and slip value at which the friction peak occurred. The proposed equalisation technique was able to match the HO tribometer traction coefficient-slip curve with the tribomachine curve while preserving most of the Modified Fastsim contact parameters.