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Mechanical Engineering vocabulary · Mechanics and Materials

Friction

Meaning in mechanical engineering, with examples

/ˈfrɪkʃən/nounCore term

In mechanical engineering, friction means: The force that resists one surface sliding or rolling over another. It causes heat and wear, but it is also needed, for example in brakes and bolted joints.

In Turkish: sürtünme

How it is used

Used in machine design, tribology and maintenance. Engineers reduce friction with lubrication and bearings and use the coefficient of friction (μ) in calculations. Static friction acts before movement starts, kinetic friction during movement.

Example sentences

  1. We used a coefficient of friction of 0.15 in the bolted joint calculation.

  2. Too much friction in the guide rails was making the slide stick.

Common collocations

  • coefficient of friction
  • reduce friction
  • friction loss
  • static friction
  • friction force
  • lubricationPutting oil or grease between moving surfaces, for example in bearings, gears and chains, to reduce friction, wear and heat.
  • wearThe gradual loss of material from a surface caused by friction, rubbing or hard particles during use, for example on bearings, gears, seals and cutting tools.
  • bearingA machine element that supports a rotating or sliding part, such as a shaft, and reduces friction between the moving surfaces. Ball and roller bearings are the most common types.
  • efficiencyThe ratio of useful output to input, usually given as a percentage. A pump with 75% efficiency turns three quarters of its input power into useful work.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Mechanics and Materials

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