Analysis of Two-Dimensional Motion Resisted by Coulomb Friction

Abstract

The effect of Coulomb (dry) friction between surfaces of adjacent machine members, either in preventing relative sliding motion or in absorbing energy when relative motion does occur, has traditionally been analyzed on a one-dimensional basis. The two-dimensional analysis presented in this paper shows how the effectiveness of Coulomb friction in preventing relative sliding motion is greatly reduced by eccentric loading, and how the effectiveness of Coulomb friction in absorbing the energy of an oscillation may be greatly reduced by the addition of a second oscillatory or unidirectional motion. The results of the analysis are correlated with experimental data.