CHAPTER VECTOR MECHANICS FOR ENGINEERS:

6
STATICS

Friction
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Contents

Introduction
Laws of Dry Friction. Coefficients
of Friction.
Angles of Friction
Problems Involving Dry Friction
Sample Problem 6.1
Sample Problem 6.2
Wedges

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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Introduction
• In 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, the friction forces are limited in magnitude and will not
prevent motion if sufficiently large forces are applied.

• The distinction between frictionless and rough is, therefore, a matter

of degree.

• There are two types of friction: dry or Coulomb friction and fluid
friction. Fluid friction applies to lubricated mechanisms. The
present discussion is limited to dry friction between nonlubricated
surfaces.
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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
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

• Further increase in P causes the block to begin

to move as F drops to a smaller kinetic-friction
force Fk.
Fk   k N
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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
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

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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
The Laws of Dry Friction. Coefficients of Friction
• Four situations can occur when a rigid body is in contact with
a horizontal surface:

• No friction, • No motion, • Motion impending, • Motion,

(Px = 0) (Px < Fm) (Px = Fm) (Px > Fm)

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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Angles of Friction
• It is sometimes convenient to replace normal
force N and friction force F by their resultant R:

• No friction • No motion • Motion impending • Motion

Fm  s N Fk  k N
tan  s   tan  k  
N N N N
tan  s   s tan  k   k

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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Angles of Friction
• Consider block of weight W resting on board with
variable inclination angle 

• No • No motion • Motion • Motion

friction impending

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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Problems Involving Dry Friction

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

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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Sample Problem 8.1
SOLUTION:
• Determine values of friction force
and normal reaction force from plane
required to maintain equilibrium.
• Calculate maximum friction force
and compare with friction force
required for equilibrium. If it is
greater, block will not slide.

• If maximum friction force is less

A 100 lb force acts as shown on a 300 lb than friction force required for
block placed on an inclined plane. The equilibrium, block will slide.
coefficients of friction between the block Calculate kinetic-friction force.
and plane are s = 0.25 and k = 0.20.
Determine whether the block is in
equilibrium and find the value of the
friction force.
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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Sample Problem 8.1
SOLUTION:
• Determine values of friction force and normal
reaction force from plane required to maintain
equilibrium.
 Fx  0 : 100 lb - 53  300 lb   F  0
F  80 lb

 Fy  0 : N - 54  300 lb   0

N  240 lb
• Calculate maximum friction force and compare
with friction force required for equilibrium. If it is
greater, block will not slide.
Fm   s N Fm  0.25 240 lb   60 lb
The block will slide down the plane.

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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Sample Problem 8.1
• If maximum friction force is less than friction
force required for equilibrium, block will slide.
Calculate kinetic-friction force.
Factual  Fk   k N
 0.20 240 lb 
Factual  48 lb

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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Sample Problem 8.3
SOLUTION:
• When W is placed at minimum x, the
bracket is about to slip and friction
forces in upper and lower collars are at
maximum value.
• Apply conditions for static equilibrium
to find minimum x.

The moveable bracket shown may be

placed at any height on the 3-in.
diameter pipe. If the coefficient of
friction between the pipe and bracket is
0.25, determine the minimum distance
x at which the load can be supported.
Neglect the weight of the bracket.
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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Sample Problem 8.3
SOLUTION:
• When W is placed at minimum x, the bracket is about to
slip and friction forces in upper and lower collars are at
maximum value.
FA   s N A  0.25 N A
FB   s N B  0.25 N B
• Apply conditions for static equilibrium to find minimum
x.
F  0: N  N  0 N N
x B A B A
 Fy  0 : FA  FB  W  0
0.25 N A  0.25 N B  W  0
0.5 N A  W N A  N B  2W
 M B  0 : N A  6 in.  FA  3 in.  W  x  1.5 in.  0
6 N A  3 0.25 N A   W  x  1.5  0
6 2W   0.75 2W   W  x  1.5  0
x  12 in.
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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Wedges

• Wedges - simple • Block as free-body • Wedge as free-body

machines used to raise  Fx  0 :  Fx  0 :
heavy loads.
 N1   s N 2  0   s N 2  N3   s cos 6  sin 6
• Force required to lift  Fy  0 : P0
block is significantly
less than block weight.  W   s N1  N 2  0  Fy  0 :
or  N 2  N3  cos 6   s sin 6  0
• Friction prevents wedge
  
from sliding out. R1  R2  W  0 or
  
• Want to find minimum P  R2  R3  0
force P to raise block.

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