Statics of Rigid Bodies

CE201
Engr. Dustin Glenn Cuevas, MSCE
Announcement

• Recitation 4 will be available after this lecture, Due date: Dec 16 (Thursday) 11:59 pm
• Homework 4 will also be uploaded today, due date: Dec 20 (Monday) 11:59 pm
• Quiz 4 and Midterm Exam is scheduled on Dec. 20 (Monday)
Friction
Dry Friction

The concept of a frictionless surface is, of course, an idealization. All real surfaces also provide a force component that
is tangent to the surface, called the friction force, that resists sliding.

Dry friction refers to the friction force that exists between two unlubricated solid surfaces.
Dry Friction

Consider a block of mass, m, resting on a rough horizontal surface. The block is then pulled by a horizontal
force P to the right. The floor exerts both normal force N perpendicular to the surface and frictional force F
along the contacting surface.
 Sample Problem

Determine the largest and smallest values of the force P for which the system will be in static equilibrium. The
homogeneous bars AB and BC are identical, each having a mass of 100 kg. The coefficient of static friction
between the bar at C and the horizontal plane is 0.5.
Sample Problem

The uniform 100-lb plank is resting on friction surfaces at A and B. The coefficients of static friction are shown in the
figure. If a 200-lb man starts walking from A toward B, determine the distance x when the plank will start to
slide.
Impending Tipping

Consider again a homogeneous block on a friction surface being pushed by a force P. We assume that the
weight W of the block, and the dimensions b, h, and d are known. We wish to determine the magnitude
of P that will cause impending motion of the block, either impending sliding or impending tipping.
 Sample Problem

The man in 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.
Sample Problem

Determine the maximum force P that can be applied to block A without causing either block to move.
 Sample Problem

Can the system be in static equilibrium in the position shown? The uniform bar AB weighs 500 lb, and the
weight of block C is 300 lb. Friction at A is negligible, and the coefficient of static friction is 0.4 at the other
two contact surfaces.
Ropes and Flat Belts

The theory of Coulomb friction can also be used to analyze the forces acting between a flexible body, such as
a rope or belt, and a friction surface.
Sample Problem

The block of weight W is supported by a rope that is wrapped one-and-one-half times around the circular peg.
Determine the range of values of P for which the block remains at rest. The coefficient of static friction between the
rope and the peg is 0.2.
Sample Problem

A flexible belt placed around a rotating drum of 4-inch radius acts as a brake when the arm ABCD is pulled down by the
force P . The coefficient of kinetic friction between the belt and the drum is 0.2. Determine the force P that
would result in a braking torque of 400-lb·in., assuming that the drum is rotating counterclockwise. Neglect the weight
of the brake arm.