Friction
• Frictional forces – tangential forces generated
between contacting surfaces; always opposite to
tendency of motion
• Minimise its effects in some machines e.g. bearings,
power screws, gears, pipe fluid flow, missile
propulsion
• Maximise its effects in other machines e.g. brakes,
clutches, belts, wedges, human locomotion
• Ideal/real machine – friction is negligible/not
negligible resp.
Types of Friction
• Dry (Coulomb) friction – unlubricated surfaces of two
solids under sliding or its tendency; occurs during
interval leading up to slippage and when slippage
occurs
• Fluid friction – adjacent layers of fluid (liquid or gas)
move at different velocities; depends on velocity
gradient and fluid viscosity
• Internal friction – materials under cyclic loading –
low elasticity/high plasticity – shear deformation
Dry Friction
• P increases from zero to sufficient value to move
block
• As P is increased, f must be equal & opposite to P
as long as block does not slip (block equilibrium)
• When block slips as a result of P, f decreases
Static & Kinetic Friction
• Static Friction – up to point of slippage/impending
motion; determined by eqns of equilibrium
• μs = coefficient of static friction; Fmax =
limiting/max friction
• Kinetic Friction – friction after motion is instituted;
lower than static
• μk = coefficient of kinetic friction; μk < μs
limiting/max friction
• μk & μs for a pair of surfaces reflects its roughness
(geometric property)
Friction Angles
• From FBD, we notice:
• Фs/k = angle of static/kinetic friction
Factors Affecting Dry Friction
• Independent of the apparent or projected area of
contact
• Dependent on local temperature
• Dependent on adhesion at contact; relative
hardness of mating surfaces
• Dependent on presence of thin surface films, oil, dirt
Types Dry Friction Problems
• Type 1: Condition of impending motion in known to
exist; equilibrium equations valid
• Type 2: Neither the condition of impending motion
nor the condition of motion is known to exist; first
assume equilibrium then solve for F necessary for
equilibrium; 3 outcomes are possible [i] F < Fmax =>
body in static equilib; actual friction is F [ii] F = Fmax
=> impending motion; static equilib. assumption
valid [iii] F > Fmax (impossible!) => we are in motion;
equilib. assumption not valid; F = μkN
• Type 3: Relative motion is known to exist => μk
applies!
Example 1 – Sliding Friction
• .
Example 2 – Sliding Friction
• .
Example 3 – Sliding Friction
• .
Example 3 – Sliding Friction (cont’d)
• .
Tipping v. Sliding Friction
• Will the block tip or slide?
Assume: Slipping occurs
Known: F = s N
Solve: x, P, and N
Check: 0 x b/2
Tipping v. Sliding Friction
• Will the block tip or slide?
or
Assume: Tipping occurs
Known: x = b/2
Solve: P, N, and F
Check: F s N
Example 4 -Tipping v. Sliding
• Given: Refrigerator weight = 180 lb, s = 0.25
• Determine: The smallest magnitude of P that will cause
impending motion (tipping or slipping) of the refrigerator.
Example 4 -Tipping v. Sliding (cont’d)
There are four unknowns: P, N, F and x.
First, let’s assume the refrigerator slips. Then the friction
equation is F = s N = 0.25 N.
+ FX = P – 0.25 N = 0
+ FY = N – 180 = 0
These two equations give:
P = 45 lb and N = 180 lb
•
+ MO = 45 (4) + 180 (x) = 0
Check: x = 1.0 1.5 so OK!
Refrigerator slips as assumed at P = 45 lb
Example 5 – Tipping Friction
• .
Application of friction in machines
• Wedges – used to produce small adjustments in the
position of a body or to apply large forces. They
depend of friction to function
• Wedge Raising load Lowering load
(self-locking)
Application of friction in machines
• Screws – used for fastening (fasteners) or for
transmitting power or motion (power screws)
Application of friction in machines
• Journal Bearings – gives lateral support to a shaft in
contrast to axial or thrust support
• Thrust Bearings – gives axial
support to a shaft
Application of friction in machines
• Flexible Belts – depend on friction to drive one
pulley from another
