University of Engineering and Technology

Peshawar, Pakistan

CE-117: Engineering Mechanics

MODULE 8:

Dry Friction
Prof. Dr. Mohammad Javed & Engr. Mudassir Iqbal
mjaved@uetpeshawar.edu.pk mudassiriqbal@uetpeshawar.edu.pk
1
 Lecture Objectives

To introduce the concept of dry friction

and show how to analyse the equilibrium of
rigid bodies subjected to this force.
 frictiOn
 All real surfaces also provide a force component that is
tangent to the surface, called the friction force, that resists
sliding.
 Friction enables us:
 To walk without slipping,
 It holds nails and screws in place, and
 it allows us to transmit power by means of clutches and
belts.

 Friction can also be detrimental: It causes wear in machinery

and reduces efficiency in the transmission of power by
converting mechanical energy into heat. 3
 frictiOn

Dry friction (also known as Coulomb friction) refers to the

friction force that exists between two unlubricated solid
surfaces.

Fluid friction acts between moving surfaces that are

separated by a layer of fluid. The friction in a lubricated
journal bearing is classified as fluid friction, because the two
halves of the bearing are not in direct contact but are
separated by a thin layer of liquid lubricant.
4
 cOuLOmb’s theOry Of Dry frictiOn
Dry friction is a complex phenomenon that is not yet
completely understood.

A detailed treatment of the nature of frictional forces

must also include the effects of temperature, density,
cleanliness, and atomic or molecular attraction between
the contacting surfaces.

This lecture introduces a highly simplified theory, known

as Coulomb’s theory of dry friction, that has been found
to give satisfactory results in many practical problems. 5
 cOuLOmb’s theOry Of Dry frictiOn

Body resting on rough

surface
F.B.D of body

Resultant of normal forces

and frictional resistance

6
 Coulomb’s Theory
case 1: static cOnDitiOn
Coulomb proposed the following law: If there is no relative
motion between two surfaces that are in contact, the
normal force N and the friction force F satisfy the following
relationship.

where Fmax (also abbreviated as

Fm) is the maximum static
friction force that can exist Fm= μsN
between the contacting
surfaces and µs is known as the
coefficient of static friction. Static condition, Fs< Fm
7
 typicaL vaLues Of cOefficient Of frictiOn

The coefficient friction is an experimental constant that depends

on the composition and roughness of the contacting surfaces.

8
 Coulomb’s Theory
case 2: impenDing sLiDing

Motion Impending, Fs=Fm

Fm= μsN

9
 Coulomb’s Theory
case 3: Dynamic cOnDitiOn

Motion, Fk<Fm
10
LimitatiOns Of cOuLOmb’s theOry

11
LimitatiOns Of cOuLOmb’s theOry

12
 cOuLOmb’s theOry: summary
4 situations can occur when a rigid body is in contact with a horizontal surface:

3. Motion Impending
,
(Px = Fm) Fm= μsN
1. No friction,(Px = 0)
4. Motion

2. No motion

13
 angLe Of frictiOn
It is sometimes convenient to replace normal force N and friction
force F by their resultant R:

• No friction
• No motion • Motion impending • Motion
when the block is on the verge of sliding,
the normal force N and frictional force Fm
combine to create a resultant Rs. The angle
ϕs that Rs makes with N is called the angle of
static friction. 14
 angLe Of repOse
• Consider block of weight W resting on board with variable inclination
angle θ

• No friction • No motion • Motion • Motion

impending

Angle of inclined surface at which the body is at the verge of sliding

in downward direction is known as Angle of Repose

15
 prObLem 8.1

The uniform thin pole has a weight of 30 lb and a length of 26 ft.

If it is placed against the smooth wall and on the rough floor in
the position , will it remain in this position when it is released?
The coefficient of static friction is μs = 0.3

16
 prObLem 8.1: sOLutiOn

NB
Assume Equilibrium

30 lb
θ
Bʹ
FA
10ʹ

NA

17
 prObLem 8.1: sOLutiOn

Assume Equilibrium NB

30 *5 = 0
30 lb
θ
Bʹ
FA
10ʹ

5ʹ
NA

18
 prObLem 8.1: sOLutiOn

Check for siding

19
 prObLem 8.2

A horizontal force of P = 100 N is just sufficient to hold the

crate from sliding down the plane, and a horizontal force of
P = 350 N is required to just push the crate up the plane.
Determine the coefficient of static friction between the plane
and the crate, and find the mass of the crate.

20
 prObLem 8.2: sOLn y’

100 Sin 30o x’

Case-I: When crate is at the verge

of sliding in downward direction

21
 prObLem 8.2: sOLn y’

350 Sin 30o x’

Case-II: When crate is at the verge

of sliding in upward direction

350Sin 30o

22
prObLem 8.2: sOLn

By equating (II) and (IV)

By solving above eqn., we get m= 36.46 kg

Substituting value of m in (II) or (IV), we get μs = 0.256

23
 prObLem 8.3

The coefficient of static friction between the 150-kg crate

and the ground is μs = 0.3, while the coefficient of static
friction between the 80-kg man’s shoes and the ground is
μsʹ = 0.4. Determine if the man can move the crate.

24
 prObLem 8.3: sOLn

T Sin 30o
Assume Equilibrium W T

ΣFx = 0
T Cos 30o - FA = 0 -----------------(I) T Cos 30o
FA A
In order to slide the crate, the magnitude of
T must be such that it produce FA= (FA)m NA

= μNA = 0.3NA
Substituting FA= 0.3NA in eqn. (I)
 T Cos 30o - 0.3NA = 0
 T = 0.346NA -------------(II)
25
 prObLem 8.3: sOLn

T Sin 30o
W T
Assume Equilibrium
ΣFy = 0
T Cos 30o
-W +NA+Tsin 30o= 0
FA A
 -150*9.81 +NA+0.346NA Sin 30o= 0
 NA = 1254.5 N NA

=> T = 0.346NA = 0.346*1254.5= 434 N

26
 prObLem 8.3: sOLn

Assume Equilibrium
W = 80*9.81 N
434 Cos 30o
ΣFy = 0

434 S in30o
NB -80*9.81 -434 Sin 30o= 0
434 N
 NB= 1002 N

ΣFx = 0 B FB
-434 Cos 30o + FB = 0
 FB = 375.9 N NB

27
 prObLem 8.3: sOLn

Check for sliding

Force required to cause the shoes slip on W = 80*9.81 N

434 Cos 30o
floor, (FB)m
(FB)m = μʹNB =0.4 *1002 = 400.7 N

434 S in30o
434 N
Since force required for equilibrium, FB=
375.9 N < (FB)m = 400.7 N, therefore, man
can slide crate w/o slipping on floor B FB

NB

28
 ImpendIng TIppIng

Up till now, we restricted our attention to sliding; the possibility of

tipping was neglected. We now discuss problems that include both
sliding and tipping as possible motions.

We wish to determine the magnitude of P that will cause impending

motion of the block, either impending sliding or impending tipping. 29
ImpendIng TIppIng

30
 prObLem 8.4

The man in Figure is trying to

move a packing crate across the
floor by applying a horizontal force
P. The center of gravity of the 250-
N crate is located at its geometric
center. Does the crate move if P =
60 N? The coefficient of static
friction between the crate and the
floor is 0.3.

31
 prObLem 8.4: sOLn

If the block is assumed to remain in

equilibrium, the three equilibrium
equations can be used to calculate
the three unknowns:
1. the normal force N1,
2. the friction force F1,
3. and the distance x locating the line of
action of N1.

32
 prObLem 8.4: sOLn

Assume Equilibrium

33
 prObLem 8.4: sOLn

Check for overturning

The largest possible value for x is 0.3 m (half the width of
the crate). Because x = 0.216 m, as obtained from
equilibrium analysis, is smaller than that, we conclude that
the block will not tip.

Check for sliding

The limiting static friction force is (F1)max = µs N1 =
0.3(250) = 75.0 N, which is larger than the force F1 = 60 N
that is required for equilibrium. We therefore conclude
that the crate will not slide. 34
 prObLem 8.5

Two concrete blocks weighing

320 lb each form part of the
retaining wall of a swimming
pool. Will the blocks be in
equilibrium when the pool is
filled and the water exerts the
line loading shown?

35
 prObLem 8.5: sOLn
5̋
Assume upper block in equilibrium
320 lb
ΣFx= 0
R1

F1-R1= 0 ---------(I) h1 = 8/3̋

R1 = ½*P1*8 C F1
x1 P1
Where P1/18= 32/36 or P1 = 16 lb/ft N1
 R1 = ½*16*18 = 144 lb
P1
 Eqn I: F1-144= 0
 F1=144 lb

36
 prObLem 8.5: sOLn
5̋

Assume upper block in Equilibrium

ΣFy= 0 320 lb
N1-320= 0 ---------(II) R1
N1 = 320 lb h1 = 18/3̋
C F1
ΣMC= 0 x1 P1
N1* x1 - R1*18/3= 0 N1
 320* x1-144*18/3= 0
 x1 = 2.7 in

37
 prObLem 8.5: sOLn

Check for sliding of upper block

Force required for sliding, (F1)max= μs1*N1 = 0.5*320 =160 lb <

Force required for equilibrium , F1= 144 lb so the upper block will
not slide

Check for Overturning of upper block

x1 for equilibrium = 1.2 in < half the length of block = 5 in

So the upper block will not over turn

38
 prObLem 8.5: sOLn
5̋

Assume lower block in equilibrium

ΣFx= 0 640 lb

F2-R2= 0 ---------(III)
R2
R2 = ½*32*16 = 576 lb
N1
h2 = 36/3̋
 Eqn III: F2-576= 0 C
 F2=576 lb F2
x2
N2

39
 prObLem 8.5: sOLn
5̋

Assume lower block in equilibrium

ΣFy= 0
640 lb
N2-640= 0 ---------(IV)
N1 = 640 lb
R2

ΣMCʹ= 0 N1
h2 = 36/3̋
N2* x2 – R2*36/3= 0 Cʹ
 640* x2-576*36/3= 0 F2
 x2 = 10.8 in x2
N2

40
 prObLem 8.5: sOLn

Check for sliding of lower block

Force required for sliding, (F2)max= μs2*N2 = 1.0*640 =640 lb <

Force required for equilibrium , F2= 576 lb so the lower block will
not slide

Check for Overturning of lower block

x2 for equilibrium = 10.8 in > half the length of block = 5 in

So the lower block will over turn

41
 exercise 8
8.1

Ans: μs =0.231
8.2

Ans: P= 0.127 lb
42
 exercise 8

8.3

Ans: θ =16.3o

43
 exercise 8

8.4

Ans: FD= 36.9 lb, Ay= 468 lb,

Bx= 34.6 lb, By= 228 lb

44
 exercise 8

8.5

Ans: x= 4.34 ft

45
 exercise 8

8.6

Ans: P= 153.2 N

46
 exercise 8

8.7

Ans: P= 115.3 N

47
 exercise 8

8.8

Ans: P =60 lb

48
 exercise 8

8.9

Ans: P =29.5 N
49
 hOme assignment 8

 Section B: 1,5 and 7

 Section D: 2,6 and 8

50