Friction

Dr. Madan Lal Chandravanshi

Assistant Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering
IIT(ISM) Dhanbad
Friction

• When solid body slides over another solid body, a

force exerted at the surface of contact by the
stationary body on the moving body.

• The direction of the friction force is always acts in

direction opposite to the direction of motion.
Frictional Forces
At the contact surface between, the component of force directed parallel to the surface
is known as friction.

Static friction acts to keep an object at rest (static) against its contact surface. It can take
on any magnitude up to a maximum value
fs < fsMAX = ms N
where N is the normal force acting on the object at the surface.

The direction of fs is opposed to the sum of other applied forces.

Kinetic friction acts when there is relative motion along the interface. It takes on a
constant value fk = mk N

The direction of fk is opposite the velocity of the object relative to the surface.
 Substances mk ms
Wood on wood 0.2 0.25-0.5
Glass on glass 0.4 0.9-1.0
Rubber on dry concrete 0.8 1.0
Waxed wood ski on dry snow 0.04 0.04
Ice on ice 0.03 0.1
Teflon on teflon 0.04 0.04

Note that mk is typically smaller than ms.

It’s easier to keep something sliding than it is to start it sliding from rest.
Laws of Friction
➢ The force of friction is always acts in direction, opposite to
that in which the body tends to move.

➢ The total friction that can be developed is proportional to

the normal force transmitted across the surface of contact.

➢ The force of friction is independent of the area of contact

between the two surfaces.

➢ The force of friction depends upon the roughness of the

surface.
Coefficient of Friction
The Laws of Dry Friction: Coefficients of Friction
• Four situations can occur when a rigid body is in contact with a horizontal
surface:
• (I) Force applied Vertically downward

• No friction,
(Px = 0)
(II) Force applied at angle from horizontal axis

• No motion,
(Px < Fm)
(III) Force applied at angle from horizontal axis

• Motion impending,
(Px = Fm)
(IV) Force applied at angle from horizontal
axis

• Motion
(Px > Fm)
•Replace normal force N and friction force F by their resultant R:
•(I) Angle of friction is zero

• No friction
(II) Angle of friction φ

Φ S is angle of static
friction
• No motion

Fm ms N
tan  s = =
N N
tan  s = ms
(III) Angle of friction is equal to angle of
static friction

• Motion impending
(IV) Angle of friction is equal to angle of kinetic friction

• Motion

Fk mk N
tan k = =
N N
tan k = m k
Angles of Friction
• Consider block of weight W resting on board with
variable inclination angle q.
• (I)

• No friction
(II) Angles of Friction

• No motion
(III) Angles of Friction
The value of angle
inclination corresponding
impending motion is called
the angle of repose .

Angle of repose is equal to

angle of static friction .

•Motion impending
(IV) Angles of Friction

• Motion
Problems Involving Dry Friction

• All applied forces known

• All applied forces known • Coefficient of static
• Coefficient of static friction is friction is known
known • Motion is impending
• Motion is impending
• Determine whether body will • Determine value of
remain at rest or slide coefficient of static • Determine
friction. magnitude or
direction of one of
the applied forces
 Sample Problem
A 100 N force acts as shown on a 300 N block placed on an inclined
plane. The coefficients of friction between the block and plane are ms =
0.25 and mk = 0.20. Determine whether the block is in equilibrium and
find the value of the friction force.
 SOLUTION:
 Fx = 0 : 100 N - 53 (300 N ) − F = 0
FBD F = −80 N
 Fy = 0 : N - 54 (300 N ) = 0
N = 240 N
• Calculate maximum friction force and compare with
friction force required for equilibrium. If it is greater,
block will not slide.

𝐹𝑚 = 𝜇𝑠 𝑁 𝐹𝑚 = 0.25 240 N = 60 N

The block will slide down the plane.

• If maximum friction force is less than friction force required for equilibrium, block will
slide.
• Calculate kinetic-friction force.
Factual = Fk = m k N
Factual = 48 N
= 0.20(240 N )
 Wedges

• Wedges - simple machines

used to raise heavy loads. • Block as free-body • Wedge as free-body
 Fx = 0 :  Fx = 0 :
• Force required to lift block − N + m N = 0
1 s 2 − m s N 2 − N 3 (m s cos 6 − sin 6)
is significantly less than
 Fy = 0 : +P=0
block weight.
− W − m s N1 + N 2 = 0  Fy = 0 :
• Friction prevents wedge or − N 2 + N 3 (cos 6 − m s sin 6) = 0
 
from sliding out. R1 + R2 + W = 0
or
• Want to find minimum   
force P to raise block. P − R2 + R3 = 0
8 - 29
 Square-Threaded Screws
• Square-threaded screws frequently used in jacks, presses, etc. Analysis
similar to block on inclined plane. Recall friction force does not depend
on area of contact.
• Thread of base has been “unwrapped” and shown as straight line.
Slope is 2pr horizontally and lead L vertically.

• Moment of force Q is equal to moment of force P. Q = Pa r

• Impending motion
upwards. Solve for Q. • s  q , Self-locking, solve for • 𝜑𝑠 ⧼ 𝜃, Non-locking, solve for
Q to lower load. Q to hold load.
Sample Problem
A clamp is used to hold two pieces of wood together as shown. The
clamp has a double square thread of mean diameter equal to 10 mm with
a pitch of 2 mm. The coefficient of friction between threads is ms = 0.30.
If a maximum torque of 40 N*m is applied in tightening the clamp,
determine (a) the force exerted on the pieces of wood, and (b) the torque
required to loosen the clamp.
SOLUTION
• Calculate lead angle and pitch angle. For the double threaded
screw, the lead L is equal to twice the pitch.

L 2(2 mm )
tan q = = = 0.1273 q = 7.3
2p r 10p mm
tan  s = m s = 0.30  s = 16.7

• Using block and plane analogy with impending motion up the

plane, calculate clamping force with force triangle.

40 N  m
Q r = 40 N  m Q= = 8 kN
5 mm
Q 8 kN
tan (q +  s ) = W=
W tan 24
W = 17.97 kN
Solution
• 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  103 N 5  10 −3 m )
Torque = 14.87 N  m
Belt Friction
• Relate T1 and T2 when belt is about to slide to right.
• Draw free-body diagram for element of belt
q q
 Fx = 0 : (T + T ) cos − T cos − m s N = 0
2 2
q q
 Fy = 0 : N − (T + T ) sin − T sin = 0
2 2
• Combine to eliminate N, divide through by q,
T q  T  sin (q 2 )
cos − m s T + 
q 2  2  q 2
• In the limit as q goes to zero,
dT
− m sT = 0
dq
• Separate variables and integrate from q = 0 to q = 
= e ms 
T2 T2
ln = m s  or
T1 T1
 Problem
A flat belt connects pulley A to pulley B. The coefficients of friction
are ms = 0.25 and mk = 0.20 between both pulleys and the belt.
Knowing that the maximum allowable tension in the belt is 600 lb,
determine the largest torque which can be exerted by the belt on
pulley A.
SOLUTION:
• Since angle of contact is smaller, slippage will occur
on pulley B first. Determine belt tensions based on
pulley B.

= e ms  = e 0.25(2p 3) = 1.688
T2 600 lb
T1 T1
600 lb
T1 = = 355.4 lb
1.688
• Taking pulley A as free-body, sum moments about pulley
center to determine torque.

MA = 0: M A + (8 in.)(355.4 lb − 600 lb ) = 0

M A = 163.1 lb  ft