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