| Title | Teflon Bearings in Base Isolation I: Testing. |
| Authors | Mokha, Anoop; Constantinou, Michalakis; Reinhorn, Andrei |
| Publication | Journal of Structural Engineering, Vol.116, No.2, Feb 1990 |
| Objectives | Conduct a series of laboratory experiments on teflon-steel interfaces to determine the effect of sliding velocity, sliding acceleration, bearing pressure, type of teflon, and surface finish on the frictional characteristics of sliding bearings. |
| Abstract | This paper describes the frictional properties of sheet type Teflon-steel in relation to their application in sliding bearings for base-isolated structures.A series of laboratory experiments has been conducted on Teflon-steel interfaces to determine the effect of sliding velocity, sliding acceleration, bearing pressure, type of Teflon, and surface finish on frictional characteristics. It is found that the sliding acceleration has insignificant effects on the recorded values of frictional force. However, sliding velocity and bearing pressure have important effects. Friction increases with increasing velocity up to a certain value of velocity beyond which it remains constant. Furthermore, friction drops with increasing pressure with a rate of reduction that is strongly dependent on velocity. It stabilizes at a value of pressure between 5,000 and 6,500 psi (34.5 and 44.9 N/mm^2). Substantial differences between breakaway (or static) coefficient of friction are observed. In general, the breakaway value is two to four times larger than the sliding value. |
