Friction Factors

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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. Factors Affecting friction..... Static Friction..... Sliding/dynamic/kinetic friction..... Coefficients of Friction..... Rolling Friction..... Plain Bearings Friction..... Rolling Bearing Friction..... Clutch Brake Friction..... Bolted Joints..... Power Screws..... Press Fits.... Test Methods.... Linked Reference Info

Factors affecting the friction between surfaces Factors affecting the friction between surfaces Factors affecting the friction between surfaces Factors affecting the friction between surfaces

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.

Well lubricated surfaces

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

Surface Friction Notes

Static Coefficient of FrictionStatic Coefficient of FrictionStatic Coefficient of FrictionStatic Coefficient of Friction

The static friction coefficient () 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)

= F /N

For a horizontal surface the horizontal force (F) to move a solid resting on a flat surface

F= 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. .

SlSlSlSliding Coefficient of Frictioniding Coefficient of Frictioniding Coefficient of Frictioniding 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..

Friction Coefficients Friction Coefficients Friction Coefficients 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 FrictionRolling FrictionRolling FrictionRolling 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.

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)

Typical values for f are listed below

Note: Values for rolling friction from various sources are not consistent and the following values should only be used for approximate calculations.

Steel on Steel f = 0,0005m Wood on Steel f = 0,0012m

Wood on Wood f = 0,0015m

Iron on iron f = 0,00051m

Iron on granite f = 0,0021m Iron on Wood f = 0,0056m

Polymer of steel f = 0,002m

Hardrubber on Steel f = 0,0077m

Hardrubber on Concrete f = 0,01 -0,02m

Rubber on Concrete f = 0,015 -0,035m

Plain Bearing Friction factorsPlain Bearing Friction factorsPlain Bearing Friction factorsPlain Bearing Friction factors For values of rolling bearing friction Plain Bearing Friction Values

Rolling Bearing FrictionRolling Bearing FrictionRolling Bearing FrictionRolling Bearing Friction For values of rolling bearing friction Rolling Bearing Friction Values

Clutch Clutch Clutch Clutch ---- Brake Friction Values Brake Friction Values Brake Friction Values Brake Friction Values 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

FrictiFrictiFrictiFriction coefficient Bolted Jointson coefficient Bolted Jointson coefficient Bolted Jointson coefficient Bolted Joints 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 information and preferably testing.

Coefficient of Friction for screw threads

Female Thread -Nut or Tapped Hole in steel(untreated)

Male screw Friction Coefficient

(Dry) Friction Coefficient

(lub)

Untreated Steel 0,12 - 0,18 0,10 - 0,17

Phosphated Steel 0,12 - 0,18 0,10 - 0,17

Cadmium Plated Steel

0,09 - 0,14 0,08 -0,23

Galvanised steel 0,14 - 0,23 0,12 - 0,2

Degreased steel 0,19 - 0,25

Female Thread -Nut or Tapped Hole in steel(Galvanised)

Male screw Friction Coeffient

(Dry) Friction

Coefficient(Lub.)

Untreated Steel 0,14 - 0,2 0,12 - 0,18


Cadmium Plated Steel

0,1 - 0,16 0,09 - 0,15


Degreased steel 0,19 - 0,25

Coefficient of Friction Nut/Bolt Face against Clamped surface

Clamped Surface = Steel

Bolt/Nut Mat'l Friction Coeffient

(Dry) Friction

Coefficient(Lub.)

Untreated Steel 0,10 - 0,18 0,08 - 0.15



Clamped Surface -Galvanised Steel

Bolt/Nut Mat'l Friction Coefficient

(Dry) Friction Coefficient

(lub)

Untreated Steel 0,10 - 0,18 0,08 - 0,15



Coefficient of friction between surfaces clamped by bolts /screws. These values allow calculation of the shear force necessary to cause slip between surfaces when clamped by bolts.

Contact Surfaces slip coefficient

Steel On Steel- No treatment 0,15- 0,25

Steel On Cast Iron- No treatment 0,18 - 0,3

Steel On Steel- Machined (Degreased) 0,12- 0,18

Steel On Cast Iron- Machined (Degreased) 0,15 - 0,25

Grit -Sandblasted surfaces 0,48 - 0,55

Friction Factors for Power ScrewsFriction Factors for Power ScrewsFriction Factors for Power ScrewsFriction Factors for Power Screws The following factors are typical friction factors for power screw torque and efficiency calculations..

1) Screw Thread Friction values (s)

(Friction factors apply mainly for screw thread friction (s) - can be applied to collar friction(c) 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 (c) 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

Press Fit Mechanical JointsPress Fit Mechanical JointsPress Fit Mechanical JointsPress Fit Mechanical Joints 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)... Various values of relevant coefficients of friction are provided below;

Steel Hub , Steel Shaft unlubricated - force fit ...C. of Friction = 0,07 to 0,16 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 theie coefficient of friction to 0,25 to 0,3. (ref links 1 & 2 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.

Testing MethoTesting MethoTesting MethoTesting Methodsdsdsds There are a number of test methods for coefficient of frictions as some of which are listed below

Flat block pressed against a OD of rotating ring (FOR) Flat block against another flat block (FOF)

Flat block sliding down an inclined runway(IS)

Pin pressed against a OD of rotating ring (POR

Reciprocating loaded spherical end pin pressed on a flat surface(RSOF)

It is clear that the different test methods provide different friction results..

Coefficient of Friction Coefficient of Friction Coefficient of Friction 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 links below the tables provide further information.

Effect of oxide film etc on coefficient of static friction

Material Clean Dry

Thick Oxide Film

Sulfide Film

Steel-Steel 0,78 0,27 0,39

Copper-Copper 1,21 0,76 0,74

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

DRY Greasy Material 1 Material 2

Static Sliding Static Sliding

Test method

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

Cadmium Mild Steel 0,46

Cast Iron Cast Iron 1,1 0,15 0,07

Cast Iron Oak 0,49 0,075

Chromium Chromium 0,41 0,34

Copper Cast Iron 1,05 0,29

Copper Copper 1,0 0,08

Copper Mild Steel 0,53 0,36 0,18

Copper Steel 0,8 SPOF

Copper Steel (304 stainless) 0,23 0,21 FOF

Copper-Lead Alloy Steel 0,22 -

Diamond Diamond 0,1 0,05 - 0,1

Diamond Metal 0,1 - 0,1

0,15

Glass Glass 0,9 - 1,0 0,4 0,1 - 0,6 0,09-0,12

Glass Metal 0,5 - 0,7 0,2 - 0,3

Glass Nickel 0,78 0,56

Graphite Graphite 0,1 0,1

Graphite Steel 0,1 0,1

Graphite (In vacuum) Graphite (In vacuum) 0,5 - 0,8

Hard Carbon Hard Carbon 0,16 0,12 - 0,14

Hard Carbon Steel 0,14 0,11 - 0,14

Iron Iron 1,0 0,15 - 0,2

Lead Cast Iron 0,43

Lead Steel 1,4 SPOF

Leather Wood 0,3 - 0,4

Leather Metal(Clean) 0,6 0,2

Leather Metal(Wet) 0,4

Leather Oak (Parallel grain) 0,61 0,52

Magnesium Magnesium 0,6 0,08

Nickel Nickel 0,7-1,1 0,53 0,28 0,12

Nickel Mild Steel 0,64; 0,178

Nylon Nylon 0,15 - 0,25

Oak Oak (parallel grain) 0,62 0,48

Oak Oak (cross grain) 0,54 0,32 0,072

Platinum Platinum 1,2 0,25

Plexiglas Plexiglas 0,8 0,8

Plexiglas Steel 0,4 - 0,5 0,4 - 0,5

Polystyrene Polystyrene 0,5 0,5

Polystyrene Steel 0,3-0,35 0,3-0,35

Polythene Steel 0,2 0,2

Rubber Asphalt (Dry) 0,5-0,8

Rubber Asphalt (Wet) 0,25-0,0,75

Rubber Concrete (Dry) 0,6-0,85

Rubber Concrete (Wet) 0,45-0,75

Saphire Saphire 0,2 0,2

Silver Silver 1,4 0,55

Sintered Bronze Steel - 0,13

Solids Rubber 1,0 - 4,0 --

Steel Aluminium Bros 0,45

Steel Brass 0,35 0,19

Steel(Mild) Brass 0,51 0,44

Steel (Mild) Cast Iron 0,23 0,183 0,133

Steel Cast Iron 0,4 0,21

Steel Copper Lead Alloy 0,22 0,16 0,145

Steel (Hard) Graphite 0,21 0,09

Steel Graphite 0,1 0,1

Steel (Mild) Lead 0,95 0,95 0,5 0,3

Steel (Mild) Phos. Bros 0,34 0,173

Steel Phos Bros 0,35

Steel(Hard) Polythened 0,2 0,2

Steel(Hard) Polystyrene 0,3-0,35 0,3-0,35

Steel (Mild) Steel (Mild) 0,74 0,57 0,09-0,19

Steel (Mild) Steel (Mild) - 0,62 FOR

Steel(Hard) Steel (Hard) 0,78 0,42 0,05 -0,11

0,029-,12

Steel Zinc (Plated on steel) 0,5 0,45 - -

Teflon Steel 0,04 0,04 0,04

Teflon Teflon 0,04 0,04 0,04

Tin Cast Iron ,32

Titanium Alloy Ti-6Al-4V(Grade 5)

Aluminium Alloy 6061-T6 0,41 0,38 FOF



0,36 0,30 FOF


Bronze 0,36 0,27 FOF

Tungsten Carbide Tungsten Carbide 0,2-0,25 0,12

Tungsten Carbide Steel 0,4 - 0,6 0,08 - 0,2

Tungsten Carbide Copper 0,35

Tungsten Carbide Iron 0,8

Wood Wood(clean) 0,25 - 0,5

Wood Wood (Wet) 0,2

Wood Metals(Clean) 0,2-0,6

Wood Metals (Wet) 0,2

Wood Brick 0,6

Wood Concrete 0,62

Zinc Zinc 0,6 0,04

Zinc Cast Iron 0,85 0,21

Coefficient Of Friction

DRY LUBRICATED Material 1 Material 2

Static Sliding Static Sliding

Test method

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 Table of friction Values for elements Table of friction Values for elements Table of friction Values for elements Table of friction Values for elements 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 tests in air at room temperature. (50% relative humidity)

Fixed Surface Moving Block Friction

coefficient

Test Method

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


Cadmium(Cd) Cadmium(Cd) 0,79 Incline Plane


Cobalt(Co) Cobalt(Co) 0,56 Incline Plane

Chromium(Cr) 0,41 Incline Plane

Chromium(Cr) Cobalt(Co) 0,41 Incline Plane


Copper(Cu) Cobalt(Co) 0,44 Incline Plane




Nickel(Ni) 0,49 Incline Plane

Zinc(Zn) 0,56 Incline Plane

Iron(Fe) Cobalt(Co) 0,41 Incline Plane



Maganese(Mg) 0,51 Incline Plane

Molybdenum(Mo) 0,46 Incline Plane

Titanium(Ti) 0,49 Incline Plane

Tungsten(W) 0,47 Incline Plane


Indium(In) Indium(In) 1,46 Incline Plane

Maganese(Mg) Maganese(Mg) 0,69 Incline Plane

Molybdenum(Mo) Iron(Fe) 0,46 Incline Plane

Molybdenum(Mo) 0,44 Incline Plane

Niobium(Nb) Niobium(Nb) 0,46 Incline Plane

Nickel(Ni) Chromium(Cr) 0,59 Incline Plane

Nickel(Ni) 0,50 Incline Plane

Platinum(Pt) 0,64 Incline Plane

Lead(Pb) Silver (Ag) 0,73 Incline Plane





Lead(Pb) 0,90 Incline Plane

Platinum(Pt) Nickel(Ni) 0,64 Incline Plane

Platinum(Pt) 0,55 Incline Plane

Tin(Sn) Iron(Fe) 0,55 Incline Plane

Tin(Sn) 0,74 Incline Plane

Titanium(Ti) Aluminium(Al) 0,54 Incline Plane

Titanium(Ti) 0,55 Flat Sliding

Tungsten(W) Copper(Cu) 0,41 Incline Plane


Tungsten(W) 0,51 Incline Plane

Zinc(Zn) Copper(Cu) 0,56 Incline Plane



Links to Friction Information

1. Friction Joint Theory... An informative article 2. RingFeder ...Keyless Shaft Hub Connection-including relevant friction values 3. Carbide Depot.. Friction Coefficients 4. NORD-SKG.. Download manual with various Calculations involving sliding and rolling

friction 5. Supercivilcd Com.. Coefficient of Sliding Friction for various civil Materials 6. Fastener Design Manual...NASA GRC RP-1228 (9,6 Mbyte pdf file) Includes

comprehensive table with friction values. 7. Physlinks - Coefficient of Friction...A Table of Friction Coefficients 8. Engineers Edge- Coefficient of Friction...A Table of Friction Coefficients 9. FrictionCenter- Coefficient of Friction...A Table of Friction Coefficients 10. School for Champions...Lots of very useful Notes 11. Investigation of the press fit joints by tribology aspect...A Very Informative paper 12. Bolt Council...Guide to Design Criteria for Bolted and Riveted Joints.(6,7 Mbyte pdf ). Info

on Slip coefficients (P.82) etc 13. MD Metric...Datasheet for PTFE 14. Friction coefficients in "Rail- Wheel" contacts .......Downloadable paper providing very

theoretical information 15. Hypertextbooks _Physics Factbooks.....Physics Factbook .A page inlcuding a number of

very good (school) articles on coe-fficents of friction of different materials 16. 3M Mill Rolls Coef't of Fr'n Study .."...Coefficient of friction values for real applications 17. NACA Research Memorandum .....Paper Download ..Friction value and surface damage of

several corrosion resistant materials 18. Wear Research Paper .....Paper Download ..A study of the tribological behaviour of

polyamide 66 with varying injection-moulding parameters 19. Fund'ls of Friction and Wear of Automobile Brake Materials .....Paper Download ..Very

informative document 20. Friction in Metal Forming...Chapter 4-aces, Tribology, DimensionalCharacteristics,

Inspection and Product Quality Assurance .. 21. Classical Friction...A very simple and clear description of what determines the coefficient of

friction. 22. 12 Friction...Brown University-Division of Engineering..Very clear document on friction 23. Rolling Friction...Very useful notes on rolling friction 24. co-design-5. Mechanics of Screw Threads ...Web page include screw friction values

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Friction Factors