Rolling Resistance
Rolling friction and rolling resistance
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The force resisting the motion when a body rolls on a surface is called the rolling resistance or rolling friction.

The rolling resistance can be expressed as
Fr = c W (1)
where
Fr = rolling friction (N, lbf)
c = rolling coefficient
W = normal force or weight of body (N, lbf)
Rolling Friction Coefficients
Some typical rolling coefficients:
| Rolling Friction | |
| 0.001 - 0.0025 | steel wheels on steel rails |
| 0.0015 - 0.0025 | low resistance tubeless tires |
| 0.005 | tram rails |
| 0.006 - 0.01 | truck tire on asphalt |
| 0.01 - 0.015 | ordinary car tires on concrete |
| 0.03 | car tires on tar or asphalt |
| 0.04 - 0.08 | car tire on solid sand |
| 0.2 - 0.4 | car tire on loose sand |
Example - Normal car on asphalt
The rolling resistance of a normal car 1500 kg on asphalt with rolling friction can be estimated like
Fr = 0.03 (1500 kg) (9.81 m/s2)
= 441 N
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Related Topics
- Dynamics - Dynamics Motion - velocity and acceleration
- Mechanics - Kinematics, forces, vectors, motion, momentum, energy and the dynamics of objects
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