Designing shoe soles with improved grip

The previous ULTRAGRIP project developed a mathematical model to predict slip behaviour and guidelines for improving a product's slip resistance. Following on its heels is the EU-funded 'Implementation of high grip designing tools' (DEMOULTRAGRIP) project.

Its goal is to optimise the tools and demonstrate that they are ready for commercialisation. The guidelines and software will streamline the design process for numerous small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that manufacture soles for shoes. A 3D computer-aided design model includes both a coefficient of friction calculator as well as a configurator (software that aids in configuration of the product). The team is also planning a book about slip-resistant footwear.

The consortium has pulled together a plethora of sole samples covering 85 % of materials currently used for footwear soles. The samples are being used in slip tests to update the model for accurate prediction of the coefficient of friction. Preliminary results suggest good agreement between simulation and experiment and the team is now optimising the software with international standards for slip resistance in mind.

Project information has been made available on a variety of social media, including a YouTube channel, Google+ page, Facebook page and Wikipedia page. In addition, partners are sharing the outcomes with their customers and in fairs and exhibitions. A (web demonstration) version of the DEMOULTRAGRIP configurator is already available, and the industrial partners are now focused on the development of their own ULTRAGRIP line of products and preparing to take the technology to market with the results of a market analysis and a plan for knowledge transfer.

DEMOULTRAGRIP is planning to deliver a market-ready software suite and guidelines to support design of slip-resistant soles as a welcome alternative to empirical decision making. The tools will have major impact on the productivity and effectiveness of SME sole designers, enabling them to create better products faster and cheaper for a step up on the competition.