Applied mechanics (CE 101T)

(friction)
By:
Poonam Savsani
Department of Mechanical Engineering
School of Technology

1
 INTRODUCTION

Friction is the resistive force that is the result of sliding

or attempting to slide two surfaces that are pressed
against each other.
F P

Friction forces are parallel to the surfaces

in contact and oppose motion or impendi
ng motion.

interlocking property
 Types of friction

friction

RELATIVE MOTION NO RELATIVE MOTION

Kinetic static

Depending on Depending on
type of motion surface
condition

Lubricated Unlubricated
sliding Rolling
surfaces surfaces/solid/dry

Boundary
fluid
layer
 LIMITING FRICTION

P2
F2

P2>P1 HENCE F2>F1

TENDS TO SLIDE
F=Limiting force of friction
STATIC FRICTION

No further increase in friction and part will move

in the direction of applied force
Coefficient of friction
LAWS OF FRICTION

4N
4N
Limiting Angle of friction

Body will be in equilibrium under the following forces

W=weight of the body
F=friction force
P= applied force
RN=normal reaction
 Angle of repose

the maximum inclination of the plane on which

the body, free from external forces, can repose
is called angle of repose

Increasing angle

the value of angle of repose is the same as the value of limiting angle of friction
.
Cone of friction

This inverted cone with semicentral angle,

equal to limiting frictional angle , is called
cone of friction.
 PROBLEMS ON BLOCKS RESTING ON HORIZONTAL AND INCLINED
PLANES

Block A weighing 1000 N rests over block B which weighs 2000 N as shown in
Fig. Block A is tied to a wall with a horizontal string. If the coefficient of friction
between A and B is 1/4 and that between B and the floor is 1/3, what value of force
P is required to create impending motion if (a) P is horizontal, (b) P acts 30H upward
s to horizontal?
(a) P is horizontal
 (a) P is horizontal
Consider the equilibrium of block B.
ΣFV = 0 →
N2 – N1 – 2000 = 0.

∴ N2 = N1 + 2000 = 1000 + 2000 = 3000 newton.

When P is inclined:
 When P is inclined

Consider the equilibrium of block B.

ΣFV = 0 →
When P is inclined
What should be the value of θ in Fig. which will make the motion of 900 N block
down the plane to impend? The coefficient of friction for all contact surfaces is 1/3.
Consider the equilibrium of 300 N block.
Σ Forces normal to plane = 0 →
N1 – 300 cos θ = 0 or N1 = 300 cos θ
What is the value of P in the system shown in Fig. to cause the motion to impend?
Assume the pulley is smooth and coefficient of friction between the other contact s
urfaces is 0.2.
Two blocks connected by a horizontal link AB are supported on two rough planes as
shown in Fig. The coefficient of friction on the horizontal plane is 0.4. The limiting angle
of friction for block B on the inclined plane is 20H. What is the smallest weight W of the
block A for which equilibrium of the system can exist if weight of block B is 5 kN?
BLOCK-B
 BLOCK-A

Now consider the equilibrium of block A.

ΣFH = 0 →
F2 – C = 0 or F2 = C = 4.196 kN
A block weighing 500 N just starts moving down a rough inclined plane when it is
subjected to 200 N force acting up the inclined plane and it is at the point of moving u
p the plane when pulled up by a force of 300 N parallel to the plane. Find the inclinati
on of the plane and the coefficient of friction between the inclined plane and the block.
When block starts moving down the plane
 (a) P is horizontal
Now consider the equilibrium of block A.
ΣFV = 0 →
N1 – 1000 = 0 or N1 = 1000 newton.
, Since F1 is limiting friction

ΣFH = 0 →
F1 – T = 0 or T = F1, i.e. T = 250 newton.
When the block starts moving down the plane

When the block starts moving up the plane

 Ladder Friction
• The ladder is a device used to climb on the
wall. The ladder is made of wood or iron.

• There are two long pieces in the ladder to

which many small cross pieces called
rungs are connected at equal distances.

• If the ladder is uniform throughout its length

then the C.G. of the ladder will be at the
mid-point of it.
Ladder Friction

h
 A

From law of friction we have the equation F / N = µ. Using equilibrium equations

and friction law the problems can be solved.
For the ladder we have four equation

(4) F / N = µ
A ladder of length 4 m, weighing 200 N is placed against a vertical wall as
shown in Fig.The coefficient of friction between the wall and the ladder is
0.2 and that between floor and the ladder is 0.3. The ladder, in addition to its
own weight, has to support a man weighing 600 N at a distance of 3 m
from A. Calculate the minimum horizontal force to be applied at A to preven
t slipping.
• A 5 metre long ladder, weighing 750 N is resting as shown in th
e fig. Check whether ladder will be stable or not. Suggest option
s to make it stable, if it is unstable. The vertical wall is smooth a
nd floor has coefficient of friction 0.25.

5 - 35
 Wedge friction

Wedges are simple machines used to raise large stone blocks
and other heavy loads.

These loads can be raised by applying to the wedge a force us

ually considerably smaller than the weight of the load.
 Wedge friction
• In addition, because of the friction between the surfaces in co
ntact, a properly shaped wedge will remain in place after bein
g forced under the load.

• Wedges can thus be used advantageously to make small adj

ustments in the position of heavy pieces of machinery.
 Wedge friction

Wedges are used as shown to split tree trunks because the normal forces exerted
by the wedges on the wood are much larger than the forces required to insert the
wedges.
Wedge friction

R2

R1

R3

R2
 Wedge friction
• Problems of wedges are the problems of equilibrium of
forces.
• When wedge is inserted frictional forces are generated
on the rubbing surfaces of the wedge.
• Problems of equilibrium of forces acting on the wedge
are solved by anyone of the following three method.
1. Lami's Theorem
2. By taking (i) ∑H = 0 (ii) ∑V = 0 i.e., by resolution
of forces.
3. Graphical Method
Determine the force P required to start the movement of the wedge as shown
in Fig. The angle of friction for all surfaces of contact is 15H.
 belt and rope friction
• The transmission of power by means of
belt or rope drives is possible because
of friction which exists between the whe
els and the belt.
• Similarly, band brakes stops the rotating
discs because of friction between the
belt and the disc.
• All along the contact surface the
frictional resistance develops.
 belt and rope friction

• the tension in the rope is more on the side it is pulled and is less
on the other side.
• Accordingly, the two sides of the rope may be called as tight side
and slack side.