The significance and use of the friction coefficient

The quantity known as the friction coefficient (or ‘coefficient of friction’) has long been used in science and engineering. It is easy to define, but not easy to understand on a fundamental level. Conceptually defined as the ratio of two forces acting, respectively, perpendicular and parallel to an interface between two bodies under relative motion or impending relative motion, this dimensionless quantity turns out to be convenient for depicting the relative ease with which materials slide over one another under particular circumstances. Despite the fact that both static and kinetic friction coefficients can be measured with little difficulty under laboratory conditions, the time- and condition-dependent characteristics of friction coefficients associated with both clean and lubricated surfaces have proven exceedingly difficult to predict a priori from first principles. The shaky nature of friction's fundamental underpinnings, has not prevented investigators from compiling lists of friction coefficients and publishing them for general use. Problems often arise, however, when engineers attempt to use tabulated friction coefficients to solve specific problems in mechanical design or failure analysis. The systems-dependence of frictional behavior is sometimes ignored, leading to misapplication of published data. This is particularly true for applications in nano-technology and others that differ from typical laboratory size scales. This paper will review the measurement and use of static and kinetic friction coefficients, discuss their usefulness, and describe the sources of frictional resistances in terms of shear localization.