Introduction
0:00 - Today, we will see some more applications of friction.
1:09 - For your reference, this is module 5, lecture 12, of the Engineering Mechanics course.
Recap of Previous Lectures
1:20 - In the previous lectures, we saw some applications like screw jacks and thrust bearings.
1:27 - Today, we will see the application of friction in journal bearings and also explore how rolling
resistance and wheel friction are induced in the motion of a wheel.
Journal Bearings and Support for Rotating Shafts
1:49 - In this picture, you see an axle supporting pulleys, which are either driven or driving some
machinery.
2:06 - This is a common way these pulleys are supported. The axles rotate about an axis, and this axis
needs to be supported by end bearings.
2:12 - The motion is horizontal, so the radial forces, the weight of the pulley, and other forces are
transmitted to these bearings, which are supported by bearing blocks at both ends.
Types of Bearings
2:54 - We have already seen thrust bearings that provide axial support. Now, these are known as
journal bearings, which provide lateral support to the rotating shaft.
3:11 - To reduce friction, lubrication is generally applied between the axle and the bearing block.
Frictional Resistance in Journal Bearings
3:27 - The frictional resistance between the axle and the bearing block depends on several factors:
The clearances between the axle and the journal block.
The speed of the rotating shaft.
The viscosity of the lubricant used.
3:52 - Partially lubricated bearings can be assumed to be in a dry condition, with the axle having point
or line contact with the bearing during motion.
Analysis of the Bearing Setup
4:28 - This figure shows a pulley supported by an axle, which is in turn supported by a bearing block.
The circle shows the bearing surface where the axle contacts the bearing block.
4:53 - Let W be the weight of the pulleys or wheels supported by this axle, and let a moment M be
applied to keep the wheel in motion.
5:11 - The reaction from the bearing to the axle is shifted from the point of contact when the wheel is
stationary.
Rotation of the Axle and Shifting Contact Points
5:37 - Let's consider the wheel and axle supported by a bearing block. If the axle is idle, the point of
contact between the axle and the journal is fixed. However, when the axle is rotated:
6:02 - The axle tends to climb the journal due to friction, and new points of contact form.
7:09 - As the axle rotates, it climbs in the direction of motion. This shifting continues until a point
where slippage is about to occur.
8:06 - When the axle climbs, the normal reaction shifts, and the frictional force acts in the direction
opposite to the motion.
8:20 - Once the axle starts rotating at higher speeds, the point of contact moves downward due to
lower kinetic friction compared to static friction.
Frictional Forces and Equilibrium
9:14 - At constant motion, the point of contact shifts from point A to point B, where kinetic friction
comes into play. The frictional force is equal to the kinetic friction between the axle and the journal.
10:21 - The resultant of these forces balances the weight W, and a moment M must be applied to keep
the wheel rotating.
Frictional Moment and Force Analysis
11:01 - To keep the wheel in motion, the moment M has to be applied, which counteracts the frictional
moment created by the axle’s motion.
11:20 - The angle between the normal force and the resultant is the angle of kinetic friction (φk).
Force and Moment Calculation
13:18 - The moment caused by the resultant R is calculated as R × r × sin ϕk , where r is the radius of
the axle.
14:11 - For small angles of φk, we use the approximation sin ϕk ≈ tan ϕk .
15:03 - The frictional moment M is given by M = R × r × μk , where μk is the coefficient of kinetic
friction.
Graphical Representation and Solution
16:27 - The reaction at point B can be treated as a force and a couple system. The reaction force can
be replaced by a force passing through point A (the lowest point of contact), with a moment due to
the distance R × r × μk .
18:01 - Graphical solutions can be used to show the force as tangent to the circle of friction, where the
radius is r × μk .
Example Problem: Journal Bearings
19:42 - Here is an example problem involving journal bearings: A pulley supported on a shaft at point
O. The diameter of the pulley is 400 mm, and the axle has a diameter of 200 mm.
20:50 - The coefficient of static friction between the pulley and the shaft is 0.2.
Objectives of the Example Problem
21:11 - The objective is to determine the smallest vertical force P required to raise a 500 Newton load
attached to a belt passing over the pulley.
21:30 - Additionally, we need to find the smallest vertical force P required to hold the load in place,
preventing it from falling.
Case 1: Slippage Between Pulley and Shaft
21:44 - 22:10:
The slippage occurs between the pulley and the shaft, not between the belt and the pulley.
As the force P attempts to lift the weight W, the pulley moves clockwise, leading to slippage
between the pulley and the shaft at point A, which shifts to point B.
22:10 - 23:37:
As the pulley moves clockwise, the point of contact moves from A to B.
This movement leads to slippage. The force R is the resultant of the normal and frictional forces
acting at point B.
The radius of friction is found to be r sin ϕ, where ϕ is the angle between the normal and the
resultant force.
23:37 - 25:47:
The radius of friction is 20 mm, and the reaction force is shifted 20 mm from the origin.
The distances used in the calculations: 180 mm and 220 mm.
Moment equilibrium is applied:
220 mm × 500 N − 180 mm × P = 0
This gives P = 611 N.
Case 2: Holding the Weight with Slippage
25:57 - 28:26:
In this case, the impending slippage occurs in the counterclockwise direction.
The point of contact shifts from A to C.
The new radius of friction is 20 mm, and the distances are 180 mm (for weight W) and 220 mm
(for force P).
Using moment equilibrium:
180 mm × 500 N − 220 mm × P = 0
This gives P = 409 N.
General Solution Approach
28:26 - 28:54:
This problem illustrates solving journal friction problems by finding the radius of the friction circle
and shifting the reaction force tangentially to this circle.
Wheel Friction and Rolling Motion
29:08 - 30:50:
A wheel supported on an axle has a normal reaction at point A, and the wheel is initially in
equilibrium.
As the wheel begins to rotate clockwise, friction between the axle and the wheel resists motion.
To overcome the frictional moment, an external force P is applied.
The force F at point A ensures equilibrium and allows the wheel to roll instead of slide.
31:00 - 32:41:
The frictional force F at point A prevents the wheel from sliding.
Without this friction, the wheel would slide rather than roll, requiring external force P to sustain
motion.
Free Wheel with Rolling Resistance
33:25 - 35:03:
A free wheel without an axle will ideally roll without friction if the contact at A is ideal (a point
contact).
However, in real systems, the wheel eventually comes to rest due to rolling resistance.
35:03 - 36:43:
When a wheel rolls, the contact region deforms due to compressibility of the materials involved.
The deformed areas cause uneven distribution of forces, with some areas experiencing
compression and others relief.
The resultant force, instead of acting directly below the axle, shifts horizontally due to the
deformation.
36:43 - 40:54:
The resultant forces shift from the original point of contact to a point b, causing a horizontal
displacement.
The horizontal component of the resultant force is balanced by the applied force P.
The rolling resistance comes from the moment created by this horizontal displacement of the
contact forces.
Rolling Resistance and Its Effects on Vehicle Motion
Force Balance and Moment:
To maintain rolling motion, a force r must be balanced by an applied moment. If this force is
absent, the wheel will stop due to the resisting moment caused by r .
Reaction at Point B:
There is a reaction applied at point B, and a force P is required to balance the moment of weight
W about point B. The weight W produces a moment around the vertical axis, which must be
balanced by the applied force at point A.
Moment Equations:
The moment of the weight is W × b, where b is the horizontal displacement. The moment due to
the applied force P is P × OA, where OA ≈ r for small deformations (where r is the radius of
the wheel). For deformable surfaces, P is required to maintain rolling motion.
Rolling Resistance and Its Units:
The displacement b, caused by the reaction r , is known as the coefficient of rolling resistance. It
has the same unit as length, unlike the coefficient of friction, which is unitless.
Example Problem: Vehicle on Slippery Track
Given Data:
A vehicle with a weight of 65 kN is designed for slippery tracks (e.g., ice or steel). The coefficient
of friction is μ = 0.005, and the coefficient of rolling resistance is 0.8 mm. The vehicle has four-
wheel drive, meaning all wheels propel the vehicle forward.
Objective:
To determine if the vehicle can move forward based on the traction force and rolling resistance.
Forces Acting on the Vehicle:
The frictional force available to each wheel is μ × N , where N is the normal reaction at each
wheel. With four wheels, we calculate the normal reactions and frictional forces for the rear and
front wheels.
Normal Reactions:
N1 (rear) and N2 (front) can be found using equilibrium equations.
From summing moments about the front and rear axles, we find N2 = 31.2 kN and N1 =
33.8 kN.
Limiting Frictional Forces:
The maximum available frictional forces at the wheels are μ × N1 and μ × N2 . The total traction
force that can exist is the sum of these forces:
Ftraction = μ × (N1 + N2 ) = 0.325 kN.
Rolling Resistance:
b
The rolling resistance is given by the formula W × r , where W is the load on each wheel, and b is
the coefficient of rolling resistance. Calculating the rolling resistance, we find it to be 0.1040 kN,
which is less than the available frictional force. Therefore, the vehicle will be able to move forward.
Example Problem: Roller Thrust Bearing
Given Data:
A roller thrust bearing with a mean radius of 30 mm and ball diameter of 10 mm needs to support
a load P . The coefficient of rolling resistance is 0.127 mm.
Objective:
To calculate the torque T required to maintain rotation.
Free Body Diagram:
The vertical reactions from the ground (R2) and the top phase (R1) sum to support the load P .
The rotation of the shaft causes the contact point of the ball to shift slightly, creating rolling
resistance.
Rolling Resistance:
The displacement of the reaction forces due to rolling resistance is 0.0127 mm. The radius of the
balls is 5 mm.
Torque Calculation:
Using equilibrium equations for vertical forces and moments, we find the required torque T to be
0.190 Nm.
