Characteristics of pebble shape and the amount of pebble abrasion measured with a replica reproduced on a curling rink

Abstract The shape of pebbles on a curling rink was measured using a replica of the ice surface of the rink to understand the characteristics of pebbles after being in contact with stones. We focused on pebbles with flat tops for which the average shape was 3.81 mm in diameter at the lower base, 1.16 mm in diameter at the upper surface, 0.12 mm in maximum height, and 5.4° in contact angle. A scratch of about 1 µm in depth and 40 µm in width (traces of pebbles cut by a running band at the bottom of the stone) was observed on the upper surface. The pebbles were also found to have a moderate lower base diameter that preferentially contacted the nipper or stone due to its large maximum height value immediately after formation. Experiments to determine the amount of pebble abrasion associated with the passing of stones revealed that the average height of their upper surface decreased by 1 µm and the area of the upper surface increased by 0.21 mm2 for each stone passing as the stone cut the pebbles.