Friction - definition

Friction is a physical phenomenon involving a force against the relative displacement of two contacting surfaces of solids. The mechanism results from microscopic interactions at the surface interface, including forces of adhesion, elastoplastic deformations and local jamming resulting from the roughness and microstructures of materials. Friction plays a fundamental role in engineering mechanics, tribology and materials engineering, being both a desirable factor (e.g. in friction gears) or a disadvantageous one (leading to energy loss and material wear).

Classically, a distinction is made between static and kinetic (motion) friction, each of which is characterised by a different friction coefficient value. This parameter is a function of material properties, quality of surface finish, presence of lubricants and environmental conditions such as temperature or humidity. Analytical models describing the friction phenomenon often refer to empirical Coulomb formulations, although advanced applications also use numerical models that take into account contact nonlinearities and material anisotropy.

The friction phenomenon also affects the generation of heat in mechanical systems, which requires the implementation of cooling and lubrication systems, and can also lead to frictional vibrations and acoustic phenomena such as brake squeal or stick-slip phenomena in precision linear mechanisms.

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