Beyond the Sticking Point

This article discusses that new friction theories can help engineers not only avoid costly blunders but also come up with elegant novel solutions to longstanding challenges. The article also highlights that conventional design tools such as the computer-aided design or computer-aided engineering software, deal with friction by assuming a constant value of the coefficient of friction. Engineers would be better off defining that parameter themselves to capture the dynamic nature of friction. Frictional effects are increasingly important with miniaturization. This is because small devices have high surface-to-volume ratios, with surface forces such as friction and adhesion dominating over the volume forces. Relying on the old-fashioned models of friction provides insufficient precision for micron- or submicron-size devices. The examples described in the article suggest that proper incorporation of dynamic friction into engineering design models and software can be beneficial for practical engineers.