EATM Bhubaneswar ME Department Dr Biswajit Nayak
ENGINEERING MECHANICS
Dr Biswajit Nayak, ME Department, EATM Bhubaneswar
LADDER FRICTION
A ladder is an arrangement used for climbing on the walls It essentially consists of two long uprights of wood
or iron and connected by a number of cross bars. These cross bars are called rungs and provide steps for
climbing.
Fig. shows a ladder AB with its end A resting on the ground and end B leaning against a wall. The ladder is
acted upon by the following set of forces:
1. Weight W acting downwards at its mid point.
2. Normal reaction Rb and friction force Fb = µRb at the end B leaning against the wall.
Since the ladder has a tendency to slip downwards the friction force will be acting upwards.
If the wall is smooth µ = 0 the friction force will be zero.
3. Normal reaction Ra and friction force Fa =µRa at the end A resting on the floor.
Since the ladder upon slipping tends to move away from the wall the direction of friction force will be towards
the wall.
Applying equilibrium conditions the algebraic sum of the horizontal and vertical component of forces would
be zero.
PROBLEM
A ladder 6 m long has a mass of 18 kg and its center of gravity is 2.4 m from the bottom.
The ladder is placed against a vertical wall so that it makes an angle of 60° with the
ground. How far up the ladder can a 72-kg man climb before the ladder is on the verge of
slipping? The angle of friction ϕ = 15o.
EATM Bhubaneswar ME Department Dr Biswajit Nayak
EATM Bhubaneswar ME Department Dr Biswajit Nayak
WEDGE FRICTION
A wedge is, usually, of a triangular or trapezoidal in cross-section. It is, generally, used for slight adjustments
in the position of a body i.e. for tightening fits or keys for shafts. Sometimes, a wedge is also used for lifting
heavy weights as shown in Fig.
It will be interesting to know that the problems on wedges are basically the problems of equilibrium on
inclined planes. Thus these problems may be solved either by the equilibrium method or by applying Lami’s
theorem. Now consider a wedge ABC, which is used to lift the body DEFG.
Let W = Weight fo the body DEFG,
P = Force required to lift the body, and
μ = Coefficient of friction on the planes AB, AC and DE such that
tan φ = μ.
A little consideration will show that when the force is sufficient to lift the body, the sliding will take place
along three planes AB, AC and DE will also occur as shown in Fig.
The three reactions and the horizontal force (P) may now be found out either by graphical method or analytical
method
Analytical method
1. First of all, consider the equilibrium of the body DEFG. And resolve the forces W, R 1 and R2 horizontally as
well as vertically.
EATM Bhubaneswar ME Department Dr Biswajit Nayak
2. Now consider the equilibrium of the wedge ABC. And resolve the forces P, R 2 and R3 horizontally as well
as vertically.
Example
A block weighing 1500 N, overlying a 10° wedge on a horizontal floor and leaning against
a vertical wall, is to be raised by applying a horizontal force to the wedge. Assuming the
coefficient of friction between all the surfaces in contact to be 0.3, determine the
minimum horizontal force required to raise the block.
Solution.
Given Data:
Weight of the block (W) = 1500 N; Angle of the wedge (α) = 10° and coefficient of friction between all the
four surfaces of contact (μ) = 0.3 = tan φ or φ = 16.7°.
Let P = Minimum horizontal force required to raise the block.
The example may be solved graphically or analytically. But we shall solve it by both the methods.
First of all, consider the equilibrium of the block. We know that it is in equilibrium under the action of the
following forces as shown in Fig. (a).
1. Its own weight 1500 N acting downwards.
2. Reaction R1 on the face DE.
3. Reaction R2 on the face DG of the block.
EATM Bhubaneswar ME Department Dr Biswajit Nayak
Now consider the equilibrium of the wedge. We know that it is in equilibrium under the action of the following
forces as shown in Fig. (b).
1. Reaction R2 of the block on the wedge.
2. Force (P) acting horizontally, and
3. Reaction R3 on the face AC of the wedge.
Resolving the forces vertically,
