Ice speed skating: Onset of lubrication by frictional heating

Abstract In ice speed skating, the friction between steel skate blade and stems from boundary where temperature of interface is below zero surface molecules exhibit unconventional mobility, hydrodynamic melts a thin water layer forms. An analytical solution steady-state lubrication equation shows that only plays role at tip over an extremely short contact length ice. Albeit its negligible contribution to total friction, generates enough heat melt which allows skater slide smoothly on water. It also shown precise value coefficient not important for because it works length.