title: Friction--slipping--traction.
abstract: The minimum translational traction requirements of outsoles for shoes used for walking, running, and activities involving lateral movements are presented. Since it will be shown that the classical friction relationships described by Coulomb do not always apply to the elastomeric materials used in modern day athletic footwear, empirical measures of the traction characteristics of candidate materials and designs must be made. A physical traction testing device has been developed to make measurements of the traction characteristics of shoe outsoles will be described. This device quantifies both translational and rotational traction characteristics. Examples of factors affecting both of these variables are presented. Combining a knowledge of the traction characteristics of materials and designs and the factors influencing traction with knowledge of the traction requirements of different activities permits the matching of appropriate outsoles to shoes used for specific activities.
authors.affiliation: NIKE Sport Research Lab., Beaverton, Oregon.
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Valiant
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005528:Foot / Q000502:physiology; D017276:Friction; D006112:Gravitation; D006801:Humans; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D012775:Shoes; D014143:Traction; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology