Dry Friction (Coulomb friction)

Let´s consider a body placed on a horizontal surface

and subjected to a horizontal force F.
F

As the conditions of equilibrium, we can see that

exists a force parallel to the contact surface and
another force normal to this surface.
W

F
fr
N

Fís. Edgar R. López Téllez

 Dry Friction (Coulomb friction)

The forces N and fr are the reactions by the

horizontal surface to the body and they are called
the friction force and the normal force, respectively.
W

F
fr
N

The origin of the friction force is rather obvious if

we consider an enlarged view of the contact
surfaces. This force is always directed in the
opposite sense with respect to the tendency to slip.

Fís. Edgar R. López Téllez

 Dry Friction (Coulomb friction)

The surfaces structure is considerably rough in

reality. From the figure it is evident that there is
contact between the body and the supporting
surface at a large number of points. Contact
surfaces of this type are called rough surfaces in
contrast to smooth surfaces, where friction may be
neglected.

Fís. Edgar R. López Téllez

 Dry Friction (Coulomb friction)

The experiments show that exists a critical value of

the ratio F/N corresponding to impeding motion and
practically unchanged if another vertical force Q is
applied to the body.

Q W

F
fr
N

Fís. Edgar R. López Téllez

 Dry Friction (Coulomb friction)

This is aproximately the

experiment´s graph for the
relation Fmax vs. N, and we can
write

Fmax  frmax   s N  s  ang tan( )

where s is called the coefficient of static friction and this

situation only occurs when the body is on the limit of
slipping.
The value of the coefficient of friction s depends
primarily on the nature of the contact surfaces: material,
roughness, etc. In general s  0,1
Fís. Edgar R. López Téllez
 Dry Friction (Coulomb friction)

y In this case, from the equilibrium

W
x
equation
 F  0 we have
F
fr F x  F  fr  0 fr  F
N
F y  N W  0 N W
In a general case the magnitude of the friction force fr
is less than value of frmax at equilibrium. fr  fr
max

At the limit of slipping we can write

F  frmax   s N

Fís. Edgar R. López Téllez

 Dry Friction (Coulomb friction)

Now let´s consider a body y

W
placed on a sloping surface.
x
From the free-body diagram
fr N
the equilibrium equations are

F x  W sin   fr  0 F y  N  W cos  0

fr  W sin  N  W cos

On the limit of slipping frmax  s N

sW cos  W sin  s  tan

  ang tans  where  is called rest angle

Fís. Edgar R. López Téllez