Lecture 13 Friction in Architectural Design

Friction forces are developed when two objects rub against one another. It is
assumed that the study of friction in the context of architectural design is limited
to objects resting on a much larger flat surface such as the ground or a slab.
Mechanical engineers study friction forces much more in-depth, such as analysis
of moving parts, viscosity, etc. The analysis of friction forces is based upon:
The weight of the object
The type of materials of the object ad the surface upon which it rests
The angle of the surface relative to horizontal
Friction forces for an object resting on a smooth, horizontal surface may be
shown in the following free-body-diagram:

Lecture 13 - Page 1 of 7

Friction forces for an object resting on a smooth, inclined surface may be shown
in the following free-body-diagram:

Sometimes, it is quite evident that a relatively short, squat object will slide when
being pushed as shown below:

And other times, it is quite evident that a relatively tall, thin object will tip when
being pushed as shown below:

However, it is not always intuitively obvious whether an object will tip or slide
when being subjected to an external force, as illustrated in the following example.

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EXAMPLE 1
GIVEN: The rectangular object as shown below. The object weighs 400 lbs. and
has a coefficient of static friction, with respect to the ground = 0.4.
REQUIRED:
a) What force P is necessary to tip the object over?
b) What will occur first, tipping or sliding?

Lecture 13 - Page 3 of 7

One of the primary uses of the analysis of friction (in the context of Architectural
design) is the analysis and design of retaining walls, such as the ones pictured
below:

1-0 Design Strip

The active horizontal force P pushing against the wall is a function of water
pressure through soil. Well-drained soils such as gravel and sand are typically used
as backfill since the active pressure from those types of soil is much less than poorlydrained soils such as clay.
Finished grade

H/3

P=

1
KhH 2
2

Values of Active Horizontal Soil Pressure Coefficient Kh

Backfill Soil Type:
Clean, well-graded well-drained gravel & sand
Poorly-graded, moderately well-drained sand
Stiff silts, silty sand, clayey sand
Soft clay
Stiff clay
Lecture 13 - Page 4 of 7

Kh
30 psf/ft
35 psf/ft
45 psf/ft
65 psf/ft
Not recommended

Only the weight of the wall and soil above it act to resist the force of the water
pressure. Building codes such as the International Building Code typically specify that
a factor of safety of 1.5 be used against sliding and overturning.
A one-foot unit strip of wall is used to represent a slice of the wall for analysis.
A free body diagram of the forces on a typical cantilever retaining wall is shown
in the example below.

EXAMPLE 2
GIVEN: The cantilevered retaining wall as shown below. The proposed backfill
consists of poorly-graded, moderately well-drained sand. The coefficient of friction,
between the soil and the concrete is 0.50. Use the following unit weights:
concrete = 150 PCF
soil = 105 PCF
REQUIRED: Determine the following:
1) The factor of safety against sliding
2) The factor of safety against overturning

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Break the wall into several pieces as shown below:

Piece 4
Piece 3
P

Piece 2

H = 9-0

H/3

X
Datum

Piece 1

Piece:

Volume: (ft3)

Unit
Weight:
(lb/ft3)

Weight:
(lb)

1
2
3
4
Totals:

7 x 1.33 x 1 = 9.33 ft3

1.5 x 1 x 1 = 1.5 ft3
9 x 1 x 1 = 9 ft3
4.5 x 7.67 x 1 = 34.5 ft3

150 PCF
105 PCF
150 PCF
105 PCF

1400 lb.
158 lb.
1350 lb.
3623 lb.
6531 lb.

X (ft)
Dist. to
centroid
of piece
3.5
0.75
2.0
4.75

Wt. x X (lbft) =
Resisting
Moment
4900 ft-lb
119 ft-lb
2700 ft-lb
17,209 ft-lb
24,928 ft-lb

The total active horizontal soil pressure, P can be calculated as follows:

P=

1
KhH 2
2
1
(35 psf / ft )(9'0" ) 2
2

P = 1418 lbs.
The factor of safety against sliding =

(Total _ Weight )(Coeff . _ of _ Friction)

> 1.50
P
(6531lbs )(0.50)
1418lbs

= 2.30
Since the factor of safety against sliding = 2.30 > 1.50 wall is acceptable

Lecture 13 - Page 6 of 7

The factor of safety against overturning =

Re sisting _ Moment
1.50
Overturning _ Moment

H
The overturning moment (as referenced from Point A) = P
3

9'0"
= 1418lbs.

3
= 4254 ft-lbs.
The factor of safety against overturning =

24,928 ft lbs
4254 ft lbs

= 5.86
Since the factor of safety against overturning = 5.86 > 1.50 wall is acceptable

Lecture 13 - Page 7 of 7