Straight chains of interconnected mass points under the action of non-symmetric dry friction

The motion of a chain of interconnected equal material points placed on a rough straight line and connected by equal kinematical constraints is considered. It is supposed that the system experiences a small non-symmetric Coulomb dry frictional force acting from the line side upon each mass point and opposite to the direction of motion. The magnitude of this force depends on the direction of motion. To the equation of motion the procedure of averaging is applied. The expression for the stationary “on the average” velocity of the motion of the system as a single whole is found. The obtained theoretical results can be used for the design of worm-like vibration robots. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)