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Surface area does come into play with the materials we use because the surfaces can deform. When surfaces deform the meshing (and coefficient of friction) can change when the weight distribution is changed.
Simply put, more weight in a small area can cause the carpet to "flatten" which is why only 4 wheels with 30lbs of pressure each will not perform as well as, say, 6 wheels with 20lbs of pressure each.
I am not sure at what pressure the carpet fibers begin to "flatten". This will need to be experimented with.
Technically, surface area does not directly affect the F = "mu" * "weight" equation. It does, however, change how the weight is distributed (pressure acting on the carpet... as long as the weight remains the same) and can change how the surfaces mesh, which is one factor in calculating the coefficient of friction (mu).
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Last edited by Jnadke : 09-01-2003 at 12:51.
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