School Of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering, NUST

ME-115 Engineering Mechanics (Fall 2023)

Name: Muhammad Abdullah Zafar Ghauri CMS: 405642

Section: ME-14 (C) Group: 02
C-1

Experiment 7: Investigate the Frictional Behavior of Flat Clutch Plate using

Clutch Frictional Apparatus

Objectives: The main objective of this experiment is to investigate the frictional behavior for
different materials like nylon, rubber, wood etc. using Clutch Frictional Apparatus. The main goal is to
investigate what shall be the effect of addition of weight on plate when the material is subject to
investigation.

Apparatus:

1. Frictionless String (or Frictionless Cord)

2. Weight Hangers
3. Weights (varying from .1N to 5N)

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 4. Testing Material Samples (In Torus Shape)
5. Frictionless Pulleys
6. Clutch Plate Friction Apparatus (Wall Mounted)
7. Marking Instruments

Theory:

• Friction:
The force that resists motion when the surface of one object comes in contact with the surface
of another is called friction.
OR
The force that tends to restrict the motion of a body when it comes in contact with the surface is called
friction.
▪ It is well-pertained that frictional force acts on a body in the direction opposite to that of
motion.

Broader image of frictional force and the other forces co-existing with it
Generally, the frictional force is given by the following formula: -
F=μN
Where F is the Frictional force, N is the Normal force which acts opposite to the weight of body and μ
is the coefficient of friction (which can be both static as well as kinetic).

• Types of Friction:
There are two types of frictions: -
1. Static Friction
2. Kinetic Friction

• Static Friction:
The friction experienced when a stationary object on a surface is compelled to move,
without actually causing any relative motion between the body and the surface on which it is placed is called
static friction.

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The formula for Static Friction may be written as follows: -
Fs=μSN
Here, μS is called the Coefficient of Static Friction and it bears no unit, for it is the ratio of two similar
quantities.

If the angle of inclination is given, the coefficient of friction (both for static and kinetic friction) can be
calculated by taking the tangent of value of the angle θ and vice versa.

θ=tan(μ)
μ=tan-1(θ)

• Kinetic Friction:
Kinetic friction is defined as a force that acts between moving surfaces is
called Kinetic Friction.
The formula for Kinetic Friction may be written as follows: -
Fk=μkN
Here, μk is called the Coefficient of Kinetic Friction and it bears no unit, for it is the ratio of two similar
quantities.

NOTE:
The values of μS and μk are independent of the area of contact of surfaces, while their values are only
dependent to the type of material.
• Merits and Demerits of Friction:
o Merits of Friction:

1. Friction is responsible for the movement of different bodies and surfaces.

2. Responsible for interconversion of energy into different forms
3. Friction helps to produce breaking effect in surfaces, as it basically tends to restrict the motion.
o Demerits of Friction:
1. Friction produces heat which damages the moving parts of a machine.
2. Friction produces wear and tear on the contacting surfaces. This reduces the life of machines,
tires and shoe soles.
3. A lot of energy is wasted due to friction to overcome it before the movement.

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Procedure:

1. Mount the material within the clutch plates whose frictional behavior is subjected to
deliberation.
2. Wrap the cord around the detachable clutch plate in clockwise direction, being subjected to
connection to hangers upon which the weight is to be applied in order to compel the wheel to
move in clockwise direction. After passing the string over the frictionless pulleys, proceed
towards the gradual step of addition of weights.
3. It must be well ensured to have the equal weights added on both the hangers attached to cords
passing across the rotatable disc.
4. Keep on adding weights till the disc starts to rotate.
5. Note the weights in the hanger.
6. Repeat the procedure by adding weights on rotatable disc and notes the readings.
7. Do the same by changing the clutch plate.

Readings and Calculations:

Observations:
Plate 1:
Material: Nylon
Radius R1 = 12.5 cm Radius R2 = 7.5 cm
Diameter=D=0.29m

Sr. No. Axial Load Tangential Torque Coefficient of Friction Added

W1 Load T µ Weight
W2 (N)
N N Nm Uniform Uniform
Pressure Wear Rate
1 32.5 2.196 0.637 0.192 0.196 0N
2 37.5 2.396 0.694 0.181 0.185 5N
3 42.5 2.8905 0.839 0.193 0.197 10N
Observation 1: (For No added weight)
W1 =32.5 N
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W2 = 2.196 N
T = W2 x D (here, D = 29 cm = 0.29 m)
T = 2.196 x 0.29 =
T= 0.637 Nm
Determining µ:
R1 = 12.5 cm = 0.125 m, R2 = 7.5 cm = 0.075 m
Uniform pressure approach:

𝟑𝑻(𝑹𝟐𝟏 − 𝑹𝟐𝟐 )
𝝁=
𝟐𝑾𝟏 (𝑹𝟑𝟏 − 𝑹𝟑𝟐 )

3 x 0.637(0.1252 − 0.0752 )
μ= = 0.192
2 x 32.5(0.1253 − 0.0753 )

𝛍 = 𝟎. 𝟏𝟗𝟐
Uniform wear rate approach:
𝟐𝑻
𝝁=
𝑾𝟏 (𝑹𝟏 + 𝑹𝟐 )
2 x 0.637
μ= = 0.196
32.5(0.125 + 0.075)
𝛍 = 𝟎. 𝟏𝟗𝟔
Observation 2: (For 5N added weight)
W1 =37.5 N
W2 = 2.396 N
T = W2 x D (here, D = 29 cm = 0.29 m)
T = 2.396 x 0.29 = 0.694Nm
T= 0.694 Nm
Determining µ:
R1 = 12.5 cm = 0.125 m, R2 = 7.5 cm = 0.075 m
Uniform pressure approach:

𝟑𝑻(𝑹𝟐𝟏 − 𝑹𝟐𝟐 )
𝝁=
𝟐𝑾𝟏 (𝑹𝟑𝟏 − 𝑹𝟑𝟐 )

3 x 0.694(0.1252 − 0.0752 )
μ= = 0.181
2 x 37.5(0.1253 − 0.0753 )

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 𝛍 = 𝟎. 𝟏𝟖𝟏
Uniform wear rate approach:
𝟐𝑻
𝝁=
𝑾𝟏 (𝑹𝟏 + 𝑹𝟐 )
2 x 0.694
μ= = 0.185
37.5(0.125 + 0.075)

𝛍 =0.185

Observation 3: (For 10N added weight)

W1 =42.5 N
W2 = 2.896 N
T = W2 x D (here, D = 29 cm = 0.29 m)
T = 2.896 x 0.29 = 0.839Nm
T= 0.839 Nm
Determining µ:
R1 = 12.5 cm = 0.125 m, R2 = 7.5 cm = 0.075 m
Uniform pressure approach:

𝟑𝑻(𝑹𝟐𝟏 − 𝑹𝟐𝟐 )
𝝁=
𝟐𝑾𝟏 (𝑹𝟑𝟏 − 𝑹𝟑𝟐 )

3 x 0.839(0.1252 − 0.0752 )
μ= = 0.193
2 x 42.5(0.1253 − 0.0753 )

𝛍 = 𝟎. 𝟏𝟗𝟑

Uniform wear rate approach:

𝟐𝑻
𝝁=
𝑾𝟏 (𝑹𝟏 + 𝑹𝟐 )
2 x 0.839
μ= = 0.197
42.5(0.125 + 0.075)
𝛍 =0.197
Plate 2:
Material: Hardwood
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Radius R1 = 12.5 cm Radius R2 = 7.5 cm
Sr. No. Axial Load Tangential Torque Coefficient of Friction Added
W1 Load T µ Weight
W2 (N)
N N Nm Uniform Uniform
Pressure Wear Rate
1 32.5 1.7 0.493 0.148 0.151 0
2 37.5 1.89 0.548 0.143 0.146 5
3 42.5 2.09 0.60 0.139 0.142 10
Observation 1: (For No added weight)
W1 =32.5 N
W2 = 1.7 N
T = W2 x D (here, D = 29 cm = 0.29 m)
T = 1.7x 0.29 =0.493 Nm
T= 0.493 Nm
Determining µ:
R1 = 12.5 cm = 0.125 m, R2 = 7.5 cm = 0.075 m
Uniform pressure approach:

𝟑𝑻(𝑹𝟐𝟏 − 𝑹𝟐𝟐 )
𝝁=
𝟐𝑾𝟏 (𝑹𝟑𝟏 − 𝑹𝟑𝟐 )

3 x 0.493(0.1252 − 0.0752 )
μ= = 0.148
2 x 32.5(0.1253 − 0.0753 )

𝛍 = 𝟎. 𝟏𝟒𝟖
Uniform wear rate approach:
𝟐𝑻
𝝁=
𝑾𝟏 (𝑹𝟏 + 𝑹𝟐 )
2 x 0.493
μ= = 0.151
32.5(0.125 + 0.075)
𝛍 = 𝟎. 𝟏𝟓𝟏
Observation 2: (For 5N added weight)
W1 =37.5 N
W2 = 1.89 N
T = W2 x D (here, D = 29 cm = 0.29 m)
T = 1.89x 0.29 =0.493 Nm

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 T= 0.548 Nm
Determining µ:
R1 = 12.5 cm = 0.125 m, R2 = 7.5 cm = 0.075 m
Uniform pressure approach:

𝟑𝑻(𝑹𝟐𝟏 − 𝑹𝟐𝟐 )
𝝁=
𝟐𝑾𝟏 (𝑹𝟑𝟏 − 𝑹𝟑𝟐 )

3 x 0.548(0.1252 − 0.0752 )
μ= = 0.143
2 x 37.5(0.1253 − 0.0753 )

𝛍 = 𝟎. 𝟏𝟒𝟑
Uniform wear rate approach:
𝟐𝑻
𝝁=
𝑾𝟏 (𝑹𝟏 + 𝑹𝟐 )
2 x 0.548
μ= = 0.146
37.5(0.125 + 0.075)
𝛍 = 𝟎. 𝟏𝟒𝟔
Observation 3: (For 10N added weight)
W1 =42.5 N
W2 = 2.09 N
T = W2 x D (here, D = 29 cm = 0.29 m)
T = 2.09x 0.29 =0.493 Nm
T= 0.606 Nm
Determining µ:
R1 = 12.5 cm = 0.125 m, R2 = 7.5 cm = 0.075 m
Uniform pressure approach:

𝟑𝑻(𝑹𝟐𝟏 − 𝑹𝟐𝟐 )
𝝁=
𝟐𝑾𝟏 (𝑹𝟑𝟏 − 𝑹𝟑𝟐 )

3 x 0.606(0.1252 − 0.0752 )
μ= = 0.139
2 x 42.5(0.1253 − 0.0753 )

𝛍 = 𝟎. 𝟏𝟑𝟗
Uniform wear rate approach:

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 𝟐𝑻
𝝁=
𝑾𝟏 (𝑹𝟏 + 𝑹𝟐 )
2 x 0.606
μ= = 0.142
42.5(0.125 + 0.075)
𝛍 = 𝟎. 𝟏𝟒𝟐

Graph:

Nylon (Torque vs Axial Load)

0.86
0.84
0.82
Torque (Nm)

0.8
0.78
0.76
0.74
0.72
0.7
0 10 20 30 40 50
Axial Load (N)

Hardwood (Torque vs Axial Load)

0.8
Torque (Nm)

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
0 10 20 30 40 50
Axial Load (N)

Results and Discussion:

In this experiment, we determined the frictional behavior of flat clutch plates using the given
apparatus. Three different types of clutch plates were used that were nylon, rubber, and hardwood.
Friction was determined using two approaches which were the uniform pressure approach and the
uniform wear rate approach. Different clutch plates with different loads were used between stationary
and rotating discs and equal weights were added on both hangers attached to the rotating disc with a
cord until the torque is produced. The values were noted, and friction was calculated using the
formulas for uniform pressure and uniform wear rate approach. It was found that in the uniform

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pressure approach, friction is less, and torque transmission is more and in the uniform wear rate
approach friction is more and torque transmission was least. This means in the uniform pressure
approach we overestimate our design and uniform wear rate approach is a more practical and safe
approach to determine friction and torque transmission in clutch plates. When the system is new it may
have friction value close to uniform pressure approach but as time passes, due to wear in the plates,
system has friction value close to uniform wear rate approach. The graphs show that as the axial load is
increased, the torque transmission is also increased, and the tangential load is also increased to produce
that torque. There can be few possible causes of error which include friction in pulleys and strings and
irregular or uncleaned surface of disc.

Conclusion:

Friction calculated by uniform wear rate approach was more and torque transmission was least which
makes it a more practical approach. Error was due to friction in pulleys or surface of plates.

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