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Friction

Contents:
1. Laws of coulomb friction
2. Angle of friction
3. Applications to wedge, belt-pulley, power screw, journal bearing,
brakes and clutches

Engineering Mechanics Lecture at Tezpur University, Assam, 14th April 2021

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Intrduction

In the preceding chapters, it was assumed that surfaces in contact were either
frictionless (surfaces could move freely with respect to each other) or rough
(tangential forces prevent relative motion between surfaces).

Actually, no perfectly frictionless surface exists. For two surfaces in contact,

tangential forces, called friction forces, will develop if one attempts to move one
relative to the other.

However, Friction forces are limited in magnitude and will not prevent motion if
sufficiently large forces are applied. The distinction between frictionless and
rough surfaces is thus a matter of degree.

There are two types of friction: dry friction, sometimes called Coulomb friction,
and fluid friction. Fluid friction applies to lubricated mechanisms. Fluid friction
is of great importance in problems involving the flow of fluids through pipes and
orifices or dealing with bodies immersed in moving fluids. The present
discussion is limited to dry friction between nonlubricated surfaces.

Engineering Mechanics Lecture at Tezpur University, Assam, 14th April 2021

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THE LAWS OF DRY FRICTION COEFFICIENTS OF FRICTION

Block of weight W placed on horizontal surface. Forces

acting on block are its weight and reaction of surface N.

Small horizontal force P applied to block. For block to

remain stationary, in equilibrium, a horizontal component F
of the surface reaction is required. F is a static-friction
force.

As P increases, the static-friction force F increases as well

until it reaches a maximum value Fm.

Fm   s N
where is a constant called the coefficient of static friction
Further increase in P causes the block to begin to move as F drops to a smaller
kinetic-friction force Fk.
Fk   k N

Engineering Mechanics Lecture at Tezpur University, Assam, 14th April 2021

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THE LAWS OF DRY FRICTION COEFFICIENTS OF FRICTION

Maximum static-friction force:

Fm   s N
Kinetic-friction force:

Fk   k N
 k  0.75 s

Maximum static-friction force and kinetic-

friction force are:
- proportional to normal force
- dependent on type and condition of
contact surfaces
- independent of contact area

Engineering Mechanics Lecture at Tezpur University, Assam, 14th April 2021

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THE LAWS OF DRY FRICTION COEFFICIENTS OF FRICTION
Four different situations can occur when a rigid body is in contact with a horizontal
surface:
1. The forces applied to the body do not tend to move it along the
I. surface of contact; there is no friction force.
2. The applied forces tend to move the body along the surface of
contact but are not large enough to set it in motion.

3. The applied forces are such that the body is just about to slide.
Both the equations of equilibrium and the equation
II. can be used.
4. The body is sliding under the action of the applied forces, and
the equations of equilibrium do not apply any more. F is now
equal to Fk and the equation may be used

III. IV.

Engineering Mechanics Lecture at Tezpur University, Assam, 14th April 2021

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ANGLES OF FRICTION
It is sometimes convenient to replace the normal force N and the friction force
F by their resultant R

If Px is increased until motion becomes impending, the angle between R and the vertical
grows and reaches a maximum value. This value is called the angle of static friction and is
denoted by

If motion actually takes place, the magnitude of the friction force drops to Fk;
similarly the angle between R and N drops to a lower value ,called the angle
of kinetic friction

Engineering Mechanics Lecture at Tezpur University, Assam, 14th April 2021

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ANGLES OF FRICTION
Consider block of weight W resting on board with variable inclination angle q.

Normal component N
T h e a n g l e o f r e p o s e i s If the angle of inclination
equal to the angle of static is further
friction . increased, motion starts
Tangential component F
and the angle between R
and the normal drops to
the lower value .

Engineering Mechanics Lecture at Tezpur University, Assam, 14th April 2021

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PROBLEMS INVOLVING DRY FRICTION
Application of Dry Friction: wedges, screws, journal and thrust
bearings, and belt transmissions

• All applied forces known

• All applied forces • Coefficient of static
• Motion is impending
known friction is known
• Determine value of
• Coefficient of static
coefficient of static friction. • Motion is impending
friction is known
• Friction force and the • Determine magnitude
• Determine whether or direction of one of
normal force by drawing
body will remain at the applied forces
FBD
rest or slide

Engineering Mechanics Lecture at Tezpur University, Assam, 14th April 2021

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PROBLEMS INVOLVING DRY FRICTION

When two bodies A and B are in contact , the forces of friction exerted,
respectively, by A on B and by B on A are equal and opposite

The sense of the friction force acting on A is opposite to that of the motion (or
impending motion) of A as observed from B

The sense of the friction force acting on B is opposite to that of the motion (or
impending motion) of B as observed from A.

Engineering Mechanics Lecture at Tezpur University, Assam, 14th April 2021

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Problem-1:

Solution: Force Required for Equilibrium

Maximum Friction Force:The magnitude of the maximum friction force

Since 80 lb > 60 lb, the block will slide down the plane
Actual Value of Friction Force:The magnitude of the actual friction force

sense of this force

Resultant is

Engineering Mechanics Lecture at Tezpur University, Assam, 14th April 2021

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Problem-2:

Solution:

Engineering Mechanics Lecture at Tezpur University, Assam, 14th April 2021

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Assignment:

Problem-1a

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Problem-2

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WEDGES

Block as free-body Wedge as free-body

• Wedges - simple
machines used to raise  Fx  0 :  Fx  0 :
heavy loads.  N1   s N 2  0   s N 2  N 3  s cos 6  sin 6
• Force required to lift  Fy  0 : P0
block is significantly less  W   s N1  N 2  0  Fy  0 :
than block weight.
 N 2  N 3 cos 6   s sin 6  0
• Friction prevents wedge
from sliding out.
• Want to find minimum
force P to raise block.

Engineering Mechanics Lecture at Tezpur University, Assam, 14th April 2021

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SQUARE-THREADED SCREWS
Square-threaded screws are frequently used in jacks, presses, and other
mechanisms. Their analysis is similar to the analysis of a block sliding
along an inclined plane.
Thread of base has been “unwrapped” and shown as
straight line. Slope is 2�r horizontally and lead L
vertically.
Moment of force Q is equal to moment of force P. Q  Pa r
Force rquired to lift the load Q  W tan q   s 
Force rquired to lower the load Q  W tanq s 

s q,
s  q , Self-locking, solve Non-locking, solve
for Q to lower load. for Q to hold load.
Impending motion
upwards. Solve for Q
Engineering Mechanics Lecture at Tezpur University, Assam, 14th April 2021
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Problem-3:

Calculate lead angle and pitch angle.

For the double threaded screw, the
lead L is equal to twice the pitch

L 22 mm  q  7 .3 
tan q    0.1273
2 r 10 mm  s  16.7
tan  s   s  0.30

Using block and plane analogy with impending motion up

the plane, calculate clamping force with force triangle.
40 N m Q 8 kN
Qr  40 N m Q
5mm
 8kN tan q   s   W 
W tan 24 

W  17.97 kN
Engineering Mechanics Lecture at Tezpur University, Assam, 14th April 2021
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With impending motion down the plane, calculate the force and torque required to
loosen the clamp.

Q
 
tan  s  q  Q  17.97 kN  tan 9.4
W
Q  2.975 kN
Torque  Q r  2.975 kN 5 mm 
 
 2.975  10 3 N 5  10 3 m 
Torque  14.87 N  m

Engineering Mechanics Lecture at Tezpur University, Assam, 14th April 2021

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Journal Bearings. Axle Friction
• Journal bearings provide lateral support to rotating shafts.
Thrust bearings provide axial support
• Frictional resistance of fully lubricated bearings depends
on clearances, speed and lubricant viscosity. Partially
lubricated axles and bearings can be assumed to be in
direct contact along a straight line.

• Forces acting on bearing are weight W of wheels and shaft,

couple M to maintain motion, and reaction R of the
bearing.

• Reaction is vertical and equal in magnitude to W.

• Reaction line of action does not pass through shaft center

O; R is located to the right of O, resulting in a moment
that is balanced by M.
• Physically, contact point is displaced as axle “climbs” in
bearing.

Engineering Mechanics Lecture at Tezpur University, Assam, 14th April 2021

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Thank you !!

Engineering Mechanics Lecture at Tezpur University, Assam, 14th April 2021