CHAPTER 5

FRICTION

MECH 100
Engineering Mechanics I

REYNOLD M. CAOILI, PhD

Mariano Marcos State University
College of Engineering
Department of Agricultural and
Biosystems Engineering
OUTLINE
A. Definition of Friction
B. Theory of Friction
C. Angle of Friction
D. Laws of Friction
E. Problems in Friction
F. Wedges
G. Square-Threaded Screws
H. Belt Friction
I. Rolling Resistance
A. Definition of Friction

• Friction is the contact resistance exerted by one

body upon a second body when the second body
moves or tends to move past the first body.

• Friction is a retarding force always acting opposite

to the motion or the tendency to move.

• Friction exists primarily because of the roughness

of the contact surfaces.
A. Definition of Friction

• If the contact surfaces are perfectly smooth, as

assumed in some earlier problems, friction can be
neglected.

• In machines, friction is both a liability and an asset.

Where it causes loss of power it is undesirable; but
in certain types of friction drives or in brakes it is
very desirable.
B. Theory of Friction

• The following experiment is useful in discussing the

principles of friction as applied to dry unlubricated
surfaces.
• Let the block of weight W rest
on a rough horizontal surface.
Assume a horizontal force P
to be applied to the block
(Fig. 5-1). When P is zero, the
frictional resistance is zero.
When P is given increasing
values, the frictional
resistance also increases.
B. Theory of Friction

• The maximum resistance is said to be proportional to the

normal pressure and it is expressed symbolically as:
F∝N

• In equation form:
𝐅 = 𝒇𝐍
where:
F = maximum resistance force when
the body is in impending motion
N = normal pressure
f = coefficient of friction

• If the applied force P exceeds the

maximum resistance, motion of the
block takes place.
C. Angle of Friction

• Fig. 5-1 is redrawn in Fig. 5-4 to show that F and N are really
components of the total reaction R exerted by the plane
surface against the block.

• The size of the angle between R and N

depends on the value of the frictional
resistance F.
 If F = 0, this angle will be zero
 As F increases, angle will also
increases
• The particular value of this angle when maximum frictional
resistance is acting is defined as the angle of friction.

• It acts at its maximum value of ∅ only when motion is impending.

C. Angle of Friction

• From Fig. 5-4, it is apparent that the

angle of friction may be defined by
the relation
𝐹
tan 𝜑 =
𝑁
• When the body is impending motion, 𝜑 be change to ∅
• Then,
𝐹
tan ∅ =
𝑁

• Therefore,
tan ∅ = 𝑓
• This means that the tangent of angle of friction is the coefficient
of friction. Hence, determining the angle of friction means
obtaining the coefficient of friction.
C. Angle of Friction
D. Laws of Friction

1. If friction is neglected, the reactions are always

normal to the surfaces in contact.
2. Friction always acts to oppose the motion of the free
body (or its tendency to move). It is tangent to the
surfaces in contact.
3. If static friction is acting, the value of the friction force
may vary from zero to the maximum available value,
depending upon the resultant force tending to cause
motion.
4. The maximum available value of static friction (i.e.,
the limiting friction when motion impends) is equal to
fsN, where fs is the coefficient of static friction and N
is the normal pressure.
D. Laws of Friction

5. If kinetic friction is acting, the friction force is

constant at its limiting value. (Actually, kinetic friction
decreases somewhat at high velocities and increases
at very low speeds).
6. The kinetic friction is equal to fkN, where fk is the
coefficient of kinetic friction and N is the normal
pressure.
7. The angle between the total reaction and its normal
components, when limiting friction is acting, is called
the angle of friction. The tangent of this angle is the
coefficient of friction.
E. Problems in Friction

a) If ∅ is greater than 𝜃
 The block will not slide down instead it will retain
its position because the frictional force is so much
that it will hold the block

b) If ∅ is equal to 𝜃
 The block will still not slide down because having 𝜃
equal to ∅, the system will still be in equilibrium
and in here the frictional force is in its minimum

c) If ∅ is less than 𝜃
 Then slipping occurs because the frictional force is
not enough to hold the block
G. Wedges

• A wedge is a simple device that is used for the same

purpose as a lever that is to create a mechanical
advantage
• The contact reactions between the blocks at this
common surface are not only equal and oppositely
directed on the free-body diagram of each block; they
also act so that their tangential or frictional
components along the common contact surface
oppose the impending motion of each block.
FBD 1

FBD 2
FBD 1

FBD 2
FBD 1

FBD 2
 FBD 2
FBD 1

FBD 3
FBD 2 FBD 1