DRY

FRICTION
Dry friction
In most of the equilibrium problems that we have analyzed up to this point, the
surfaces of contact have been frictionless. The reactive forces were, therefore, normal
to the contact surfaces. The concept of a frictionless surface is, of course, an
idealization. All real surfaces also provide a force component that is tangent to the
surface, called the friction force, that resists sliding.
Dry friction
Dry friction refers to the friction force that exists between two unlubricated
solid surfaces. Fluid friction acts between moving surfaces that are separated by
a layer of fluid.
Coulomb’s Theory of Dry Friction
Coulomb’s theory is best
explained by considering two
bodies that are in contact with
each other, as shown. Although
a single point of contact is
indicated in this figure, the
following discussion also
applies for a finite contact area.
Static case
Coulomb proposed the following law: If there is no relative motion
between two surfaces that are in contact, the normal force N and the
friction force F satisfy the following relationship.

𝐹 ≤ 𝐹𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝜇𝑠 𝑁

Where:
𝐹𝑚𝑎𝑥 =is the maximum static friction force that can exist between the
contacting surface
𝜇𝑠 =is known as the coefficient of static friction
N= Normal force
Impending sliding
Consider the static case in which the friction force equals its limiting value;
that is,
𝐹 = 𝐹𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝜇𝑠 𝑁

For this condition, the surfaces are on the verge of sliding, a condition
known as impending sliding. When sliding impends, the surfaces are at rest
relative to each other. However, any change that would require an increase
in the friction force would cause sliding. The direction for 𝐹𝑚𝑎𝑥 can be
determined from the observation that

𝐹𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑎𝑙𝑤𝑎𝑦𝑠 𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑠 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑠𝑙𝑖𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔

1. Assume equilibrium
2. Solve the equilibrium equations for the friction forces required for equilibrium.
3. Check the assumption. if the friction forces required for equilibrium do not exceed
their limits, then the assumption is correct, and the remaining unknowns can be
computed using equilibrium analysis. If equilibrium requires that F >µs at any
friction surface (which is physically impossible), the assumption of equilibrium is
incorrect.
sample
The 100-lb block in Fig. (a) is
initially at rest on a horizontal
plane. Determine the friction
force between the block and the
surface after P was gradually
increased from 0 to 30 lb.
sample
Can the system in Fig. (a) be in static
equilibrium in the position shown? The
uniform bar AB weighs 500 lb, and the
weight of block C is 300 lb. Friction at A is
negligible, and the coefficient of static
friction is 0.4 at the other two contact
surfaces.
Problem Classification and Analysis
Type II - The problem statement implies impending sliding, and the surfaces where
sliding impends are known. Friction problems of this type have the most
straightforward analyses, because no assumptions and, therefore, no checks are
required. It is not necessary to assume equilibrium—a body known to be in a state of
impending sliding is in equilibrium by definition.

Method of Analysis
1. Set F = Fmax= µsN at the surfaces where sliding impends. Make sure that the sense
of each Fmax is correctly shown on the FBD (opposing impending sliding), because
the solution of the equilibrium equations may depend on the assumed directions of
the friction forces.
2. Solve for the unknowns using the equilibrium equations.
sample
The 100-lb block in Fig. (a) is at
rest on a rough horizontal plane
before the force P is applied.
Determine the magnitude of P
that would cause impending
sliding to the right.
sample
Determine the largest and smallest
values of the force P for which the
system in Fig. (a) will be in static
equilibrium. The homogeneous bars
AB and BC are identical, each having a
mass of 100 kg. The coefficient of
static friction between the bar at C
and the horizontal plane is 0.5.
sample
The uniform 100-lb plank in Fig. (a) is
resting on friction surfaces at A and B.
The coefficients of static friction are
shown in the figure. If a 200-lb man
starts walking from A toward B,
determine the distance x when the
plank will start to slide.
Problem Classification and Analysis
Type III - The problem statement implies impending sliding, but the surfaces at which
sliding impends are not known. Problems of this type are the most tedious to analyze,
because the surfaces at which sliding impends must be identified by trial and error.
Once an assumption has been made, the analysis is similar to that for Type II problems.
Two methods of analysis can be used here, both of which are described in the
following.

Method of Analysis I
1.Determine all possible ways in which sliding can impend.
2. For each case, set F = Fmax at the surfaces where sliding impends and solve the
equilibrium equations. Again, the sense of each Fmax should be correct on the FBD. In
general, a different solution is obtained for each mode of impending sliding.
3. Choose the correct answer by inspection of the solutions.
Problem Classification and Analysis
Type III - The problem statement implies impending sliding, but the surfaces at which
sliding impends are not known. Problems of this type are the most tedious to analyze,
because the surfaces at which sliding impends must be identified by trial and error.
Once an assumption has been made, the analysis is similar to that for Type II problems.

Method of Analysis I
1.Determine all possible ways in which sliding can impend.
2. For each case, set F = Fmax at the surfaces where sliding impends and solve the
equilibrium equations. Again, the sense of each Fmax should be correct on the FBD. In
general, a different solution is obtained for each mode of impending sliding.
3. Choose the correct answer by inspection of the solutions.
sample
Determine the maximum force P
that can be applied to block A in
the figure without causing either
block to move.
sample
The spool in the figure weighs 25
N, and its center of gravity is
located at the geo-metric center.
The weight of block C is 50 N.
The coefficients of static friction
at the two points of contact are
as shown. Determine the largest
horizontal force P that can be
applied without disturbing the
equilibrium of the system.