Friction Characteristic of Steel Skids Equipped with Skegs on a Lakebed Surface

The coefficient of friction was determined for steel skids with and without skegs. The addition of a 1.27 centimeter deep skeg caused the coefficient of friction to increase from an average value of .36 to .53, a 47 percent increase over the flat skid. The addition of a .64 centimeter deep skeg increased the friction coefficient from .36 to .46, a 16 percent increase over the flat skid. Comparisons are made with data for similar test conditions obtained during the X-15 program.