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Friction Factors
Note: I have tried to include a wide range of relevant information on this topic. It will be noted that friction values in one section do not necessarily
agree with values in another section...Please use the linked references at the bottom of the page for more detailed information.
Dry surfaces
1. For low surface pressures the friction is directly proportional to the pressure between the surfaces. As the pressure
rises the friction factor rises slightly. At very high pressure the friction factor then quickly increases to seizing
2. For low surface pressures the coefficient of friction is independent of surface area.
3. At low velocities the friction is independent of the relative surface velocity. At higher velocities the coefficent of friction
decreases.
1. The friction resistance is almost independent of the specific pressure between the surfaces.
2. At low pressures the friction varies directly as the relative surface speed
3. At high pressures the friction is high at low velocities falling as the velocity increases to a minimum at about 0,6m/s.
The friction then rises in proportion the velocity 2.
4. The friction is not so dependent of the surface materials
5. The friction is related to the temperature which affects the viscosity of the lubricant
The static friction coefficient (μ) between two solid surfaces is defined as the ratio of the tangential force (F) required to produce sliding divided
by the normal force between the surfaces (N)
μ = F /N
For a horizontal surface the horizontal force (F) to move a solid resting on a flat surface
F= μ x mass of solid x g.
If a body rests on an incline plane the body is prevented from sliding down because of the frictional resistance. If the angle of the plane is
increased there will be an angle at which the body begins to slide down the plane. This is the angle of repose and the tangent of this angle is the
same as the coefficient of friction.
When the tangential force F overcomes the frictional force between two surfaces then the surfaces begins to slide relative to each other. In the
case of a body resting on a flat surface the body starts to move. The sliding frictional resistance is normally different to the static frictional
resistance. The coefficient of sliding friction is expressed using the same formula as the static coefficient and is generally lower than the static
coefficient of friction..
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Coefficients Of Friction http://www.roymech.co.uk/Useful_Tables/Tribology/co_of_frict.htm
Friction Coefficients
A table below shows approximate friction coefficients for various materials. All values are approximate and are only suitable for guidance only.
The sliding/lubricated values must be used with extreme care. The only way to determine the accurate coefficient of friction between two
materials is to conduct experiments.
Coefficients of friction are sensitive to atmospheric dust and humidity, oxide films, surface finish, velocity of sliding, temperature, vibration, and
extent of contamination. In many cases the degree of contamination is perhaps the most important single variable.. Link Table of Coefficients
of Friction
The friction values provided are obtained by different test methods under different ambient conditions. This factor can also affect the results.
Link Test Methods
Rolling Friction
When a cylinder rolls on a surface the force resisting motion is termed rolling friction. Rolling friction is generally considerably less than sliding
friction. If W is the weight of the cylinder converted to force, or the force between the cylinder and the flat surface, and R is radius of the
cylinder and F is the force required to overcome the rolling friction then.
center>F = f x W/R
f is the coefficient of rolling friction and has the same unit of length as the radius R -in the example below m (metres)
Note: Values for rolling friction from various sources are not consistent and the following values should only be used for approximate calculations.
The coefficient of friction value is important in the design and brakes and clutches.
Various values are provided on the following linked page Clutch/Brake Materials
The coefficient of friction is required in calculating tightening torques and resulting bolt tensile forces and stress and in calculating the resulting
friction between the connected surfaces. Below are provided a small number of values showing approximate values of friction coefficients to be
used for steel screw fastened connections. The values are only representative values and should be confirmed against other sources of
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Coefficients Of Friction http://www.roymech.co.uk/Useful_Tables/Tribology/co_of_frict.htm
The following factors are typical friction factors for power screw torque and efficiency calculations..
Nut Material
Screw Material
Steel Brass Bronze Cast Iron
Steel(Dry) 0,15-0,25 0,15-0,23 0,15-0,19 0,15-0,25
Steel (Lubricated) 0,11-0,17 0,10-0,16 0,10-0,15 0,11-0,17
Bronze (Lubricated) 0,08-0,12 0,04-0,06 - 0,06-0,09
2) Thrust collar Friction values (μc)
Surface Combinations Moving Starting
Soft Steel on Cast Iron 0,12 0,17
Hard Steel on Cast Iron 0,09 0,15
Soft Steel on Bronze 0,08 0,10
Hard Steel on Bronze 0,06 0,08
In mechanical engineering rotary motion can be transferred by mechanical connections between a shaft and hub using only a tight fit. Methods
of achieving this type of connection include the engineered interference fit, the taper lock bush and hydraulic fit bush. These keyless shaft/hub
connections all transfer torque by friction.
The coefficient of friction used for designing these types of connections is dependent on the interface pressure, materials, surface condition,
surface coatings etc. The coefficient of friction is also dependent on the method of installation. A different value result if the shaft is forced into
the hub (force fit) compared to the value if the assemble is completed by heating the hub or freezing the shaft prior to assembly (shrink fit)...
Steel Hub , Steel Shaft unlubricated - force fit ...C. of Friction = 0,07 to 0,16
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Coefficients Of Friction http://www.roymech.co.uk/Useful_Tables/Tribology/co_of_frict.htm
Steel Hub , Steel Shaft greased - force fit ...C. of Friction = 0,05 to 0,12
Steel Hub , Steel Shaft unlubricated - Shrink fit ...C. of Friction = 0,15 to 0,25
Steel Hub , Steel Shaft greased - Shrink fit ...C. of Friction = 0,08 to 0,16
The manufacturers of the proprietary keyless hub/shaft systems indicate that their products are based on a coefficient of friction of 0,12 for lightly
oiled connections and 0,15 for dry assemblies. These companies can provide surface coating fluids containing particles to increase the
coefficient of friction i.e. coefficient of friction to 0,25 to 0,3. (ref links 1 below)
The American Gear Manufactures Association (AGMA) recommends a value of between 0,12-0,15 for hydraulically expanded hubs and
0,15-0,20 for shrink or press fit hubs.
When calculated the torque to be transmitted it is generally sufficient to use the simple equation
T= μ.π.d2.L.Pc/2
Calculators are available for obtaining the transmitted toque very conveniently.
Tribology -abc
Engineers edge - press fit calculatgor
Testing Methods
There are a number of test methods for coefficient of frictions as some of which are listed below
It is clear that the different test methods provide different friction results..
Coefficient of Friction
Extreme care is needed in using friction coefficients and additional independent references should be used. For any specific application the
ideal method of determining the coefficient of friction is by trials. A short table is included above the main table to illustrate how the coefficient of
friction is affected by surface films. When a metal surface is perfectly clean in a vacuum , the friction is much higher than the normal accepted
value and seizure can easily occur.
The level of uncertainty of the information below is indicated by using steel on steel as an example. Various reference sources provide values
similar to the values below.(0,74 Static- 0,42 sliding) Gieck( 7th ed) provides values of (0,15...0,30 Static - 0,10...0,30 sliding). Concise Metals
Data Handbook by J.R. Davis (table 14,1) includes values (0,31 static -0,23 sliding - for steel 1032? on steel 1032?).. The same table includes a
value for mild steel on mild steel of 0,62 sliding.
Coefficient Of Friction
Material 1 Material 2 DRY Greasy Test method
Static Sliding Static Sliding
Aluminum Aluminum 1,05-1,35 1,4 0,3
Aluminum Mild Steel 0,61 0,47
Brake Material Cast Iron 0,4
Brake Material Cast Iron (Wet) 0,2
Brass Cast Iron 0,3
Brick Wood 0,6
Bronze Cast Iron 0,22
Bronze Steel 0,16
Cadmium Cadmium 0,5 0,05
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FOR = Flat against rotating Cylinder, FOF = Flat against flat, POF = Pin on flat, IS = inclined surface,SPOF Spherical end pin on flat.
Source of above values.... The values are checked against a variety of internet and literature sources including the links below eg Link 6-Page
16. I have referred to books including Machinerys Handbook Eighteenth edition, Kempes Engineers Year Book 1980, Concise Metals Handbook
by J.R.Davis ASM - (Good source of referenced data) and Kurt Giecks Engineering Formulas 7th Edition.. 1980, etc etc
I provide the table below as a consistent set of values for simple elements using the simplest of test methods. It can be seen that values are
generally different to the values in the table above...
Friction
Fixed Surface Moving Block Test Method
coefficient
Static Sliding
Silver (Ag) Silver (Ag) 0,5 Incline Plane
Gold(Au) 0,53 Incline Plane
Copper(Cu) 0,48 Incline Plane
Iron(Fe) 0,49 Incline Plane
Aluminium(Al) Aluminium(Al) 0,57 Incline Plane
Titanium (Ti) 0,54 Incline Plane
Gold(au) Silver (Ag) 0,53 Incline Plane
Gold(Au) 0,49 Incline Plane
Cadmium(Cd) Cadmium(Cd) 0,79 Incline Plane
Iron(Fe) 0,52 Incline Plane
Cobalt(Co) Cobalt(Co) 0,56 Incline Plane
Chromium(Cr) 0,41 Incline Plane
Chromium(Cr) Cobalt(Co) 0,41 Incline Plane
Chromium(Cr) 0,46 Incline Plane
Copper(Cu) Cobalt(Co) 0,44 Incline Plane
Chromium(Cr) 0,46 Incline Plane
Copper(Cu) 0,55 Incline Plane
Iron(Fe) 0,50 Incline Plane
Nickel(Ni) 0,49 Incline Plane
Zinc(Zn) 0,56 Incline Plane
Iron(Fe) Cobalt(Co) 0,41 Incline Plane
Chromium(Cr) 0,48 Incline Plane
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