Prediction Model of Traction Based on Contact Mechanics between Paper-web and Steel Roller (1st Report, Theoretical Modeling with Experimental Verifications)

This paper describes the entirely new theoretical modeling of traction coefficient between uncoated paper web and steel roller. In the modeling, the paper base is approximated by the linear spring and the surface asperities are treated as rigid body based on the observation of web surface structure. Introducing the contact mechanics, the mixed traction coefficient is formulated theoretically for a wide range of roller surface velocity, in which the air film thickness between the web and roller is estimated based on the foil bearing model. In the experiments, the newsprint is used as uncoated paper-web under the fixed value of web wrap angle and width. The measured results are compared with the predicted results to verify the applicability of the present theoretical model. Good agreements can be seen between the predicted results and measured results.