Introducing a Test Setup to Measure the Tribological Behavior of Shoe-Surface Interactions under Biomechanically Relevant Conditions

The contact mechanism between shoe and surface is crucial in order to avoid slipping and falling [1], enhance sporting performance or minimize the risk of sport injuries [2]. However, studying this contact mechanism, between footwear and surface, is challenging and violates the traditional Amontons–Coulomb’s law of friction, due to the viscoelastic outsole materials [3].

Hence, replicating the biomechanical test conditions are of great importance, when determining the friction properties of footwear [1]. The aim of this study is to present a test-setup able to replicate biomechanical relevant test conditions.