Oblique impact experiments have been carried out with stainless-steel micro
spheres and silicon surfaces under a range of impact velocities from 0.45 t
o 1.90 m s(-1) and different incident angles. When the normal velocity comp
onent for oblique impact is less than the capture velocity as seen for norm
al impact, no capture was observed. The experimental results also reveal th
at the pattern of impulse ratio variation with incident angle varies with d
ifferent initial impact velocities. Furthermore, the measured coefficient o
f restitution values can be predicted by a dynamic simulation model, and th
e measured impulse ratios can be matched if the microspheres are assumed to
have initial angular velocities. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights
reserved.