Course Number: CE 101

Course Title: Engineering Mechanics

Lecture: 07
Friction
(For Fall 2019 Semester only)

Prepared by
Sabuj Chowdhury
Assistant Professor
Department of Civil Engineering
Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology
 Dry Friction
When a body moves or tends to move over another body, a force opposing the motion develops at the
contact surfaces. The force which opposes the movement or the tendency of movement is called the
frictional force or simply friction. So far, in earlier chapters, we had ignored this force and
considered contacting surfaces are smooth. Actually in almost all cases the contacting surfaces are
not smooth.
 This maximum value of frictional force, which comes into play when the motion is impending is
known as limiting friction.
 It may be noted that when the applied tangential force is less than the limiting friction, the body
remains at rest and such friction is called static friction, which will have any value between zero
and limiting friction.
 If the value of applied tangential force exceeds the limiting friction, the body starts moving over
another body and the frictional resistance experienced while moving is known as dynamic
friction.
 The magnitude of dynamic friction is found to be less than limiting friction.
 The coefficient of static friction is shown by a equation, 𝐹𝑠 = 𝑓𝑠 𝑁.
In that equation,
𝐹𝑠 = Static frictional force = 𝐹 = 𝐹𝑓
𝑓𝑠 = Coefficient of static friction = 𝑓 = 𝑓𝑓 = 𝜇 = 𝜇𝑠 = 𝜇𝑓
𝑁 = Normal reaction force = 𝑅

Sabuj Chowdhury, Assistant Professor, Dept. of CE, AUST

 Dry Static Friction

Limiting Friction = 2.5 N

Limiting Friction Angle = 300

Static Frictional Force depends on two factors.

1) Normal Reaction (N) (𝑭𝜶𝑵)
2) Roughness of contact surface (static frictional coefficient, f proportional to roughness) (𝑭𝜶𝒇)

Thumb rule for drawing FBD:

1) In FBD of a object, static frictional force (F) in the contact surface will be the opposite
direction of the movement of that object.
2) In FBD of a object, static frictional force (F) in the contact surface will be the same
direction of the movement of the another object which is in contact with the object which
FBD is being drawn.

Sabuj Chowdhury, Assistant Professor, Dept. of CE, AUST

 Dry Static Friction
String
All surfaces
AUST
are rough
B Vehicle

A P

N2 N2
F2

WA P WA P
F1
N1 N1
FBD of object A FBD of object A
(Assuming Smooth Surface) (Rough Surface)

T WB T WB
F2
N2 N2
FBD of object B FBD of object B
(Assuming Smooth Surface) (Rough Surface)

Sabuj Chowdhury, Assistant Professor, Dept. of CE, AUST

 Problem 01
The blocks A and B in Fig. 01 weigh 500 lb. and 300 lb., respectively. The coefficient of static
friction between block A and the horizontal plane is 0.3 while it is 0.2 between the blocks A and
B. Determine the magnitude of the force P that will cause the block A to have impending motion
towards right and also determine the cable tension. (Assume the weight of cable is negligible.)

Cable

A P
300

Fig. 01

Sabuj Chowdhury, Assistant Professor, Dept. of CE, AUST

 Solution 01
σ 𝑭𝒚 = 𝟎
T ⇒ 𝐹1 𝑠𝑖𝑛300 + 𝑁1 𝑐𝑜𝑠300 − 300 = 0
⇒ 0.2𝑁1 𝑠𝑖𝑛300 + 𝑁1 𝑐𝑜𝑠300 = 300
𝐹1 = 0.2𝑁1 ∴ 𝑵𝟏 = 𝟑𝟏𝟎. 𝟓𝟓 𝒍𝒃.
300 lb.
F1
σ 𝑭𝒙 = 𝟎
⇒ 𝑇 + 𝐹1 𝑐𝑜𝑠300 − 𝑁1 𝑠𝑖𝑛300 = 0
300 300
⇒ 𝑇 + 0.2𝑁1 𝑐𝑜𝑠300 − 𝑁1 𝑠𝑖𝑛300 = 0
∴ 𝑻 = 𝟏𝟎𝟏. 𝟒𝟗 𝒍𝒃.

N1
FBD of B Block
N1

σ 𝑭𝒚 = 𝟎

300 ⇒ 𝑁2 − 𝐹1 𝑠𝑖𝑛300 − 𝑁1 𝑐𝑜𝑠300 − 500 = 0

300
⇒ 𝑁2 − 0.2𝑁1 𝑠𝑖𝑛300 − 𝑁1 𝑐𝑜𝑠300 = 500
𝐹1 = 0.2𝑁1 ∴ 𝑵𝟐 = 𝟖𝟎𝟎 𝒍𝒃.
F1 P
500 lb. 𝐹2 = 0.3𝑁2
σ 𝑭𝒙 = 𝟎
⇒ 𝑃 − 𝐹2 − 𝐹1 𝑐𝑜𝑠300 + 𝑁1 𝑠𝑖𝑛300 = 0
F2
⇒ 𝑃 − 0.3𝑁2 − 0.2𝑁1 𝑐𝑜𝑠300 + 𝑁1 𝑠𝑖𝑛300 = 0
N2 ∴ 𝑷 = 𝟏𝟑𝟖. 𝟓𝟏 𝒍𝒃.

FBD of A Block

Sabuj Chowdhury, Assistant Professor, Dept. of CE, AUST

 Problem 02
The blocks A and B in Fig. 02 weigh 400 lb. and 200 lb., respectively. The coefficient of static
friction between block A and the horizontal plane is 0.3 while it is 0.2 between the blocks A and
B. Determine the magnitude of force Q that will cause the block A to have impending motion
towards right and also determine the cable tension. (Assume the weight of cable is negligible.)

Cable

A Q
300

Fig. 02

Sabuj Chowdhury, Assistant Professor, Dept. of CE, AUST

 Solution 02
σ 𝑭𝒚 = 𝟎
T ⇒ 𝐹1 𝑠𝑖𝑛300 + 𝑁1 𝑐𝑜𝑠300 − 200 = 0
⇒ 0.2𝑁1 𝑠𝑖𝑛300 + 𝑁1 𝑐𝑜𝑠300 = 200
𝐹1 = 0.2𝑁1 ∴ 𝑵𝟏 = 𝟐𝟎𝟕. 𝟎𝟑 𝒍𝒃.
200 lb.
F1
σ 𝑭𝒙 = 𝟎
⇒ 𝑇 + 𝐹1 𝑐𝑜𝑠300 − 𝑁1 𝑠𝑖𝑛300 = 0
300 300
⇒ 𝑇 + 0.2𝑁1 𝑐𝑜𝑠300 − 𝑁1 𝑠𝑖𝑛300 = 0
∴ 𝑻 = 𝟔𝟕. 𝟔𝟔 𝒍𝒃.

N1
FBD of B Block

N1

σ 𝑭𝒚 = 𝟎
⇒ 𝑁2 − 𝐹1 𝑠𝑖𝑛300 − 𝑁1 𝑐𝑜𝑠300 − 400 = 0
300 300
⇒ 𝑁2 − 0.2𝑁1 𝑠𝑖𝑛300 − 𝑁1 𝑐𝑜𝑠300 = 400
𝐹1 = 0.2𝑁1 ∴ 𝑵𝟐 = 𝟔𝟎𝟎 𝒍𝒃.
F1 Q 𝐹2 = 0.3𝑁2
400 lb. σ 𝑭𝒙 = 𝟎
⇒ 𝑃 − 𝐹2 − 𝐹1 𝑐𝑜𝑠300 + 𝑁1 𝑠𝑖𝑛300 = 0
F2 ⇒ 𝑃 − 0.3𝑁2 − 0.2𝑁1 𝑐𝑜𝑠300 + 𝑁1 𝑠𝑖𝑛300 = 0
N2 ∴ 𝑷 = 𝟏𝟏𝟐. 𝟑𝟒 𝒍𝒃.
FBD of A Block

Sabuj Chowdhury, Assistant Professor, Dept. of CE, AUST

 Problem 03
A cylindrical oil drum is pulled by a force P as shown in Fig. 03. The oil drum weighs 1500 lb.
The value of coefficient of static friction for all surfaces is 0.5. Calculate the magnitude of force
P when the drum just starts spinning.

Cylindrical oil
P drum

Vertical
Plane

Horizontal
Plane

Fig. 03

Sabuj Chowdhury, Assistant Professor, Dept. of CE, AUST

 Solution 03
P
σ 𝑴𝒄 = 𝟎
⇒ 𝐹1 × 𝑅 + 𝐹2 × 𝑅 − 𝑃 × 𝑅 = 0
𝐹1 = 0.5𝑁1
⇒ 𝐹1 + 𝐹2 − 𝑃 = 0
𝐹2 = 0.5𝑁2 ∴ 𝟎. 𝟓𝑵𝟏 + 𝟎. 𝟓𝑵𝟐 − 𝑷 = 𝟎 − − −(𝟏)
N2
σ 𝑭𝒙 = 𝟎
C
⇒ −𝐹1 + 𝑁2 − 𝑃 = 0
∴ −𝟎. 𝟓𝑵𝟏 + 𝑵𝟐 − 𝑷 = 𝟎 − − −(𝟐)
1500 lb.
F2 σ 𝑭𝒚 = 𝟎
F1 ⇒ 𝑁1 + 𝐹2 − 1500 = 0
∴ 𝑵𝟏 + 𝟎. 𝟓𝑵𝟐 = 𝟏𝟓𝟎𝟎 − − −(𝟑)

N1
𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 1 , (2) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 3 ⇒
FBD of Cylindrical Drum 𝑵𝟏 = 𝟕𝟓𝟎 𝒍𝒃.
𝑵𝟐 = 𝟏𝟓𝟎𝟎 𝒍𝒃.
𝑷 = 𝟏𝟏𝟐𝟓 𝒍𝒃.

Sabuj Chowdhury, Assistant Professor, Dept. of CE, AUST

 Problem 04
The blocks A and B in Fig. 04 weigh 100 lb. and 5000 lb., respectively. If the coefficient of
static friction for all slipping surfaces is 0.2, what value of Q that will cause the block A to have
impending motion towards right?

A Q
300

Fig. 04

Sabuj Chowdhury, Assistant Professor, Dept. of CE, AUST

 Solution 04
F1
𝐹1 = 0.2𝑁1 σ 𝑭𝒙 = 𝟎
𝐹2 = 0.2𝑁2 ⇒ 𝑁1 + 𝐹2 𝑐𝑜𝑠300 − 𝑁2 𝑠𝑖𝑛300 = 0
⇒ 𝑁1 + 0.2𝑁2 𝑐𝑜𝑠300 − 𝑁2 𝑠𝑖𝑛300 = 0
N1
∴ 𝑵𝟏 − 𝟎. 𝟑𝟐𝟔𝟖 𝑵𝟐 = 𝟎 − − − − (𝟏)
5000 lb
F2 σ 𝑭𝒚 = 𝟎
⇒ 𝐹1 + 𝐹2 𝑠𝑖𝑛300 + 𝑁2 𝑐𝑜𝑠300 − 5000 = 0
300 ⇒ 0.2𝑁1 + 0.2𝑁2 𝑠𝑖𝑛300 + 𝑁2 𝑐𝑜𝑠300 = 5000
300
∴ 𝟎. 𝟐𝑵𝟏 + 𝟎. 𝟗𝟔𝟔 𝑵𝟐 = 𝟓𝟎𝟎𝟎 − − − − (𝟐)

N2 𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 2 ⇒
𝑵𝟏 = 𝟏𝟓𝟖𝟒. 𝟑𝟏𝟔 𝒍𝒃.
FBD of B Block
𝑵𝟐 = 𝟒𝟖𝟒𝟕. 𝟗𝟔𝟖 𝒍𝒃.
N2

300 𝐹2 = 0.2𝑁2 σ 𝑭𝒚 = 𝟎
300
𝐹3 = 0.2𝑁3 ⇒ 𝑁3 − 𝐹2 𝑠𝑖𝑛300 − 𝑁2 𝑐𝑜𝑠300 − 100 = 0
⇒ 𝑁3 − 0.2𝑁2 𝑠𝑖𝑛300 − 𝑁2 𝑐𝑜𝑠300 − 100 = 0
F2 Q
∴ 𝑵𝟑 = 𝟒𝟕𝟖𝟑. 𝟐𝟔 𝒍𝒃.
100 lb
σ 𝑭𝒙 = 𝟎
F3 ⇒ 𝑁2 𝑠𝑖𝑛300 − 𝐹2 𝑐𝑜𝑠300 − 𝐹3 − 𝑄 = 0
⇒ 𝑁2 𝑠𝑖𝑛300 − 0.2𝑁2 𝑐𝑜𝑠300 − 0.2𝑁3 − 𝑄 = 0
N3
∴ 𝑸 = 𝟔𝟐𝟕. 𝟔𝟒 𝒍𝒃.
FBD of A Block

Sabuj Chowdhury, Assistant Professor, Dept. of CE, AUST

 Problem 05
The blocks A and B in Fig. 05 weigh 50 lb. and 5000 lb., respectively. If the coefficient of static
friction for all slipping surfaces is 0.2, what value of Q that will cause the block A to have
impending motion towards right?

A Q
300

Fig. 05

Sabuj Chowdhury, Assistant Professor, Dept. of CE, AUST

 Solution 05
F1
𝐹1 = 0.2𝑁1 σ 𝑭𝒙 = 𝟎
𝐹2 = 0.2𝑁2 ⇒ 𝑁1 + 𝐹2 𝑐𝑜𝑠300 − 𝑁2 𝑠𝑖𝑛300 = 0
⇒ 𝑁1 + 0.2𝑁2 𝑐𝑜𝑠300 − 𝑁2 𝑠𝑖𝑛300 = 0
N1
∴ 𝑵𝟏 − 𝟎. 𝟑𝟐𝟔𝟖 𝑵𝟐 = 𝟎 − − − − (𝟏)
5000 lb
F2 σ 𝑭𝒚 = 𝟎
⇒ 𝐹1 + 𝐹2 𝑠𝑖𝑛300 + 𝑁2 𝑐𝑜𝑠300 − 5000 = 0
300 ⇒ 0.2𝑁1 + 0.2𝑁2 𝑠𝑖𝑛300 + 𝑁2 𝑐𝑜𝑠300 = 5000
300
∴ 𝟎. 𝟐𝑵𝟏 + 𝟎. 𝟗𝟔𝟔 𝑵𝟐 = 𝟓𝟎𝟎𝟎 − − − − (𝟐)

N2 𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 2 ⇒
𝑵𝟏 = 𝟏𝟓𝟖𝟒. 𝟑𝟏𝟔 𝒍𝒃.
FBD of B Block
𝑵𝟐 = 𝟒𝟖𝟒𝟕. 𝟗𝟔𝟖 𝒍𝒃.
N2

300 𝐹2 = 0.2𝑁2 σ 𝑭𝒚 = 𝟎
300
𝐹3 = 0.2𝑁3 ⇒ 𝑁3 − 𝐹2 𝑠𝑖𝑛300 − 𝑁2 𝑐𝑜𝑠300 − 50 = 0
⇒ 𝑁3 − 0.2𝑁2 𝑠𝑖𝑛300 − 𝑁2 𝑐𝑜𝑠300 − 50 = 0
F2 Q
∴ 𝑵𝟑 = 𝟒𝟕𝟑𝟑. 𝟐𝟔 𝒍𝒃.
50 lb
σ 𝑭𝒙 = 𝟎
F3 ⇒ 𝑁2 𝑠𝑖𝑛300 − 𝐹2 𝑐𝑜𝑠300 − 𝐹3 − 𝑄 = 0
⇒ 𝑁2 𝑠𝑖𝑛300 − 0.2𝑁2 𝑐𝑜𝑠300 − 0.2𝑁3 − 𝑄 = 0
N3
∴ 𝑸 = 𝟔𝟑𝟕. 𝟔𝟒 𝒍𝒃.
FBD of A Block

Sabuj Chowdhury, Assistant Professor, Dept. of CE, AUST

 Problem 06
In Fig. 06, let θ = 300 and the weight of B be WB = 5000 lb. If f = 1/3 for all slipping surfaces,
what value of Q causes impending motion of A (considered weightless) towards the right?

A Q
𝜽

Fig. 06

Sabuj Chowdhury, Assistant Professor, Dept. of CE, AUST

 Solution 06
F1
𝑁1 = 3𝐹1 σ 𝑭𝒙 = 𝟎
𝑁2 = 3𝐹2 ⇒ 𝑁1 + 𝐹2 𝑐𝑜𝑠300 − 𝑁2 𝑠𝑖𝑛300 = 0
⇒ 3𝐹1 + 𝐹2 𝑐𝑜𝑠300 − 3𝐹2 𝑠𝑖𝑛300 = 0
N1
∴ 𝟑𝑭𝟏 − 𝟎. 𝟔𝟑𝟒 𝑭𝟐 = 𝟎 − − − − (𝟏)
5000 lb
F2 σ 𝑭𝒚 = 𝟎
⇒ 𝐹1 + 𝐹2 𝑠𝑖𝑛300 + 𝑁2 𝑐𝑜𝑠300 − 5000 = 0
300 ⇒ 𝐹1 + 𝐹2 𝑠𝑖𝑛300 + 3𝐹2 𝑐𝑜𝑠300 = 5000
300
∴ 𝑭𝟏 + 𝟑. 𝟎𝟗𝟖 𝑭𝟐 = 𝟓𝟎𝟎𝟎 − − − − (𝟐)

N2 𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 2 ⇒
𝑭𝟏 = 𝟑𝟏𝟗. 𝟑𝟎 𝒍𝒃.
FBD of B Block
𝑭𝟐 = 𝟏𝟓𝟏𝟎. 𝟖𝟖 𝒍𝒃.
N2

300 𝑁2 = 3𝐹2 σ 𝑭𝒚 = 𝟎
300
𝑁3 = 3𝐹3 ⇒ 𝑁3 − 𝐹2 𝑠𝑖𝑛300 − 𝑁2 𝑐𝑜𝑠300 = 0
⇒ 3𝐹3 − 𝐹2 𝑠𝑖𝑛300 − 3𝐹2 𝑐𝑜𝑠300 = 0
F2 Q
∴ 𝑭𝟑 = 𝟏𝟓𝟔𝟎. 𝟐𝟕 𝒍𝒃.

σ 𝑭𝒙 = 𝟎
F3 ⇒ 𝑁2 𝑠𝑖𝑛300 − 𝐹2 𝑐𝑜𝑠300 − 𝐹3 − 𝑄 = 0
⇒ 3𝐹2 𝑠𝑖𝑛300 − 𝐹2 𝑐𝑜𝑠300 − 𝐹3 − 𝑄 = 0
N3
∴ 𝑸 = −𝟔𝟎𝟐. 𝟒𝟏 𝒍𝒃. ≈ 𝟔𝟎𝟐. 𝟒𝟏 𝒍𝒃. (→)
FBD of A Block

Sabuj Chowdhury, Assistant Professor, Dept. of CE, AUST

 References
1) Analytic Mechanics: 3rd Edition, Virgil Moring Faires and Sherman Daniel Chambers, The
Macmillan Company
2) Mechanics of Solids: S.S. Bhavikatti.

Sabuj Chowdhury, Assistant Professor, Dept. of CE, AUST