On the combined effects of tread element flexibility and pavement micro-texture on thin film wet traction.

Classical models of the thin film wet traction problem have considered the tyre tread element to be rigid and the pavement to be smooth. Recently an analysis was developed which relaxed the rigid plate assumption and was applied to the thin film wet traction problem. It was shown there that the rigid plate model was inadequate. The effect of microtexture on thin film wet traction was also studied assuming a rigid tread element. the effect of microtexture was shown to be significant.