Forces and geometry

What Is Rolling Resistance in a Caster System?

Rolling resistance is the force that opposes steady wheel motion because the wheel, floor and bearings deform or dissipate energy.

By HAION Engineering Knowledge TeamUpdated 2026-08-21Evidence: engineering-principle

DIRECT / 01

Quick answer

Rolling resistance is the force opposing steady motion after a wheel is already rolling. A simplified level-floor estimate is F ≈ Crr × m × g, but actual cart force also includes starting resistance, caster swivel, wheel and floor deformation, alignment, contamination, slope and acceleration.

Key facts

01
Rolling resistance is not the same as starting force or swivel force.
02
Wheel diameter, tread, bearing condition, floor and load all influence the result.
03
Measured system data is preferable to an assumed coefficient for final design.

VERIFIED PRODUCT CONTEXT

Physical caster reference

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HAION H391A single-wheel central-locking medical caster — HAION OFFICIAL PRODUCT IMAGESingle wheel central locking caster
H391A-3A100UPB(2FT) · Product data pending owner approval
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FORCE MODEL

Rolling resistance is not a single material value.

It is the measured response of the wheel, caster, load, alignment and floor at a defined operating condition.

Wheel geometry

Diameter, tread and deformation influence the contact response.

Load

The complete load path changes wheel and bearing behavior.

Floor

Joints, debris, texture and thresholds can dominate the route.

Alignment

Swivel orientation and wheel layout affect actual push force.

F_push = rolling + slope + acceleration + other route losses

Measure starting and steady force separately when the decision depends on both.

Where does the resistance come from?

Wheel tread and floor materials deform at the contact patch. Bearings and seals dissipate energy. Misalignment, debris and scrub add losses. Because these effects interact, material labels alone do not determine push force.

Simplified model

On a level floor, Frolling ≈ Crr × m × g. The coefficient Crr represents the tested wheel–floor–load combination. It should not be treated as a universal property of “PU” or “TPR.”

How should it be measured?

Record wheel diameter, tread, bearing, load, floor, speed, temperature and whether casters are aligned. Separate breakaway force from steady rolling force. Use representative equipment geometry because swivel behavior and load distribution affect the measured system.

Commercial reference

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