Screw Friction

Screw Friction
• Screws are used for fastening and for transmitting power or motion. In
each case the friction developed in the threads largely determines the
action of the screw.
• Square-threaded screws are frequently used in jacks, presses, and other
mechanisms.
• The analysis here is confined to the square thread.
.

Screw Friction

Lead

• The screw has a lead L

(advancement per revolution)
𝜃 • mean radius r
• helix angle θ (also known as lead
𝜃 angle),
  tan ( L / 2 r )
1
Screw Friction

𝜃 𝜃 𝜃
𝜃 𝜃
𝜃
𝜃

𝜃 𝜃
M M
M
 R sin(   )  R sin(   )  R sin(   )
r r r
W  R cos(   ) W  R cos(   ) W  R cos(   )
M  Wr tan(   ) M  Wr tan(   ) M  Wr tan(   )
Load and screw movement is in Load and screw movement is in same Load and screw movement is in same
opposite direction direction direction

In screw problems, we need to identify which of the three cases is applicable.

Example 1
• The threaded collar is used to connect two shafts, both with right-hand
threads on their ends. The shafts are under a tension T=2 kN. If the
threads have a mean radius of 8 mm and a lead of 4 mm, calculate the
torque M required to draw the ends screws closer. The coefficient of
friction is 0.25.
Example 2
• The position of the automobile jack shown is controlled by a screw
ABC that is single-threaded at each end (right-handed thread at A, left-
handed thread at C). Each thread has a pitch of 7.5mm. and a mean
diameter of 25mm. If the coefficient of static friction is 0.25,
determine the magnitude of the couple M that must be applied to raise
the automobile.
200 kg

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