Laws of Sliding Friction lubricated Surfaces

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Laws of Sliding Friction lubricated Surfaces

(a) The frictional resistance is almost independent of the pressure (normal force per unit area) if the surfaces are flooded with oil.

(b) The friction varies directly as the speed, at low pressures; but for high pressures the friction is very great at low velocities, approaching a minimum at about 2 ft/sec linear velocity, and afterwards increasing approximately as the square root of the speed.

(c) For well lubricated surfaces the frictional resistance depends, to a very great extent, on the temperature, partly because of the change in viscosity of the oil and partly because, for journal bearings, the diameter of the bearing increases with the rise in temperature more rapidly than the diameter of the shaft, thus relieving the bearing of side pressure.

(d) If the bearing surfaces are flooded with oil, the friction is almost independent of the nature of the material of the surfaces in contact. As the lubrication becomes less ample, the coefficient of friction becomes more dependent upon the material of the surfaces.