FRICTION

Friction – contact resistance exerted by one body upon a second body when
the second body moves or tends to move past the first body.
– a retarding force always acting opposite to the motion or the
tendency to move.
– exists primarily because of the roughness of the contact surfaces.
If the contact surfaces are perfectly smooth, friction can be neglected.

W W

P
P F
F N N

The maximum frictional resistance is proportional to the normal pressure.

F∞N
F – frictional resistance
N – normal pressure

F = fN
f – coefficient of friction
 Angle of friction
Angle of friction – the particular value of the angle when
maximum frictional resistance is acting.
It acts at its maximum value of Φ only when motion is impending.
W

P
Φ F
N R
F and N are components of the total reaction R exerted by the plane surface
against the block.
The size of the angle between R and N depends on the value of the
frictional resistance F.
If F is zero, the angle is also zero. As F increases, so does the angle.
Angle of friction may be defined by the relation
F
tan Φ = —— = f
N

The tangent of the angle of friction is the coefficient of friction.

Determining the angle of friction affords a means of obtaining the
coefficient of friction.
 Laws of Friction
1. If friction is neglected, the reactions are always normal to the surfaces
in contact.
2. Friction always reacts to oppose the motion of the free body (or its
tendency to move). It is tangent to the surfaces in contact.
3. If static friction is acting, the value of the friction force may vary from
zero to the maximum available value, depending upon the resultant
force tending to cause motion.
4. The maximum available value of static friction (i.e., the limiting
friction when motion impends) is equal to fsN where fs is the
coefficient of static friction and N is the normal pressure.
5. If kinetic friction is acting, the friction force is constant at its limiting
value. (Kinetic friction decreases somewhat at high velocities and
increases at very low speeds).
6. The kinetic friction is equal to fkN where fk is the coefficient of
kinetic friction and N is the normal pressure.
7. The angle between the total reaction and its normal component, when
limiting friction is acting, is called the angle of friction. The tangent of
this angle is the coefficient of friction.
Problems
1 – The 500-N block has an impending motion up the plane caused by the
horizontal force of 1000N. Determine the coefficient of static friction
between the contact surfaces.

500N

1000N

30o
2. What weight W is necessary to start the system of blocks moving to the
right? The coefficient of friction is 0.10 and the pulleys are assumed to be
frictionless.

800N

1200N
30o

W
3 – Block A weighs 600N, block B weighs 1000N, and the cord is parallel to
the incline. If the coefficient of friction is 0.60 and θ = 30 , what force P
applied to B acting down and parallel to the incline will start motion? What
is the tension in the cord attached to A?

A
B

θ
Frames Containing Three-Force Members

C 300N 1. For the frame loaded,

2m determine the horizontal and
200N B vertical reactions at A and D.
Also, determine the horizontal
and vertical components of the
pin pressure at B.
4m

2m 2m

480N 1440N

5m 5m 5m 5m
D B 2. Two trusses are joined to
form a three-hinged arch.
10m E Compute the horizontal
15m and vertical components of
A the hinge force at B and then
determine the type and
C magnitude of force in bars BD
in bars BD and BE. Also,
determine the horizontal and vertical reactions at A and C.
Belt Friction
T1 T1
log e ----- = fβ or ----- = efβ
T2 T2

The above equation is easily solved by using common logarithms:

T1
log10 ------- = log10T1 – log10T2 = 0.434fβ
T2

where:
T1 – tension in the tight side of the belt
T2 – tension in the slack side of the belt
β – angle of contact; expressed in radians
f – coefficient of friction