9.1.7: Disc Friction
- Page ID
- 95131
Key Questions
- Select the appropriate disc friction equation among those for hollow circular areas, solid areas, and disc brakes with a circular arc and
- Compute the possible moment the friction forces from disc friction can resist.
Disc Friction
Disc friction is the friction that exists between a rotating body and a stationary surface. Disc friction exerts a moment on the bodies involved which resists the relative rotation of each bodies. Disc friction is applicable to a wide variety of designs including end bearings, collar bearings, disc brakes, and clutches.
Figure 9.7.1. This orbital sander rotates a circular sanding disc against a stationary surface. The disc friction between the sanding disc and the surface will exert a moment on both the surface and the sander.
Collar bearing with a hollow circular contact area
A collar bearing, shown in Figure 9.7.2 has a rotating annular area in contact with a stationary bearing surface. The rotating shaft passes through a hole or bearing in the surface to maintain radial alignment. The collar bearing prevents axial motion and acts as a thrust bearing to transfer the axial load to a solid foundation.
(a) (b)
Figure 9.7.2. Collar bearing (a) Side view (b) Contact area
A collar bearing, shown in Figure 9.7.2 has a rotating annular area in contact with a stationary bearing surface. The rotating shaft passes through a hole or bearing in the surface to maintain radial alignment. The collar bearing prevents axial motion and acts as a thrust bearing to transfer the axial load to a solid foundation.
| \begin{aligned} d F_f & =\mu_k d F_N \\ d F_i & =d F_o \\ r_i & <r_o \\ d M_i & <d M_0 \end{aligned} |
Figure 9.7.3. Forces and moments on differential areas
The total moment exerted acting on the disc due to the friction forces is found by integrating the elements \(d M\) over the contact area. The moment of each element will be equal to the product of the coefficient of kinetic friction, the normal force pressure, the moment arm and the area of each element
\[
\begin{aligned}
d M & =\mu_k p r d A \\
M & =\int_A d M \\
& =\int_A \mu_k p r d A
\end{aligned}
\]
The coefficient of friction and pressure terms are constant so can be moved outside the integral, and since pressure is defined as force per unit are area \(p=F / A\), the pressure term can be replaced with the applied load divided by the bearing contact area,
\[
p=\frac{P}{\pi\left(r_o^2-r_i^2\right)}
\]
A differential element of area \(d A\) can be expressed in terms of radial distance \(r\) allowing us to integrate with respect to \(r\).
\[
d A=2 \pi r d r
\]
Making these substitutions leads to an equation that is easy to integrate.
\[
\begin{aligned}
M & =\mu_k p \int_A r d A \\
& =\mu_k\left(\frac{P}{\pi\left(r_{\mathrm{o}}^2-r_{\mathrm{i}}^2\right)}\right) \int_{r_{\mathrm{i}}}^{r_{\mathrm{o}}} r(2 \pi r) d r \\
& =\frac{2 \mu_k P}{\left(r_{\mathrm{o}}^2-r_{\mathrm{i}}^2\right)} \int_{r_{\mathrm{i}}}^{r_{\mathrm{o}}} r^2 d r
\end{aligned}
\]
Integrating this integral, evaluating the limits and simplifying gives the final result
\[
M=\frac{2}{3} \mu_k P\left(\frac{r_{\mathrm{o}}^3-r_{\mathrm{i}}^3}{r_{\mathrm{o}}^2-r_{\mathrm{i}}^2}\right)
\]
End Bearings
In cases where we have a solid circular contact area such as with a solid circular shaft, an end bearing, or the orbital sander shown in Figure 9.7.1 we simply set the inner radius to zero and simplify equation (9.7.1). If we do so, the result is
\[
M=\frac{2}{3} \mu_k F r_{\mathrm{o}}
\]
(a) Side view.
(b) Top view.
Figure 9.7.4. A circular thrust bearing.
End bearing with a solid circular contact area
In cases where we have a solid circular contact area such as with a solid circular shaft in an end bearing or with the orbital sander shown at the top of the page we simply set the inner radius to zero and we can simplify the formula. If we do so, the original formula is reduced to the equation below.
\begin{equation} M=\frac{2}{3} \mu_k F r_\text{o}\tag{9.7.2} \end{equation}
(a)
(b)
Figure 9.7.4. A circular thrust bearing (a) side view (b) top view
Circular Arc Bearings
Automobile disc brakes have a contact area that looks like a section of the hollow circular contact area we covered earlier.
Figure 9.7.5. The contact area in disc brakes is often approximated as a circular arc with a contact angle \(\theta\).
Disc brakes, due to their smaller contact area, have higher pressure for the same applied force but a smaller area over which to exert friction. In the end, these factors cancel out and we end up with the same formula we found in Subsection 9.7.2. Notice that this formula is independent of \(\theta\).
Brake pad on one side:
\[
M=\frac{2}{3} \mu_k P\left(\frac{r_{\mathrm{o}}^3-r_{\mathrm{i}}^3}{r_{\mathrm{o}}^2-r_{\mathrm{i}}^2}\right)
\]
Most disc brakes, however, have two pads one on each side of the rotating disc, so we will need to double the moment if so.
Brake pads on each side:
\[
M=\frac{4}{3} \mu_k P\left(\frac{r_{\mathrm{o}}^3-r_{\mathrm{i}}^3}{r_{\mathrm{o}}^2-r_{\mathrm{i}}^2}\right)
\]