Planar Quasi-static Motion Of A Lamina With Uncertain Contact Friction

Planning t>he motion of bodies in cont,act requires a model of contact rnechanics in order to predict sliding, rolling, and jamming. Such a model t'ypi-cally includes estimates of the coefficients of friction. Though, usually assumed t,o be constant, these coefficients vary and are difficult to measure. In this paper, we treat, the coefficient,s of friction as independent variables and derive regions in t,he space of friction coefficients that correspond to par-ticiilar modes of motion; three sliding corit,acts or one sliding and one rolling coiit,act, all otlier coil-tacts separating.