I Static rotational friction: does diameter matter?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on whether the diameter of a washer affects static friction in a bolted joint. One viewpoint suggests that friction is independent of surface area, implying diameter does not matter, while another argues that a larger diameter increases the moment due to friction acting further from the axis of rotation. The resolution lies in distinguishing between linear slip force and torque for tightening; the former is unaffected by diameter, while the latter is influenced by it. To analyze this, one must determine if the bolt head or washer is slipping and calculate torque based on the average diameter of the slipping surfaces. This topic is typically covered in machine design literature, particularly in sections on bolted joints.
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Imagine a bolted joint with a washer between the bolt and the surface.

Assuming the washer is always covered by the bolt head so it's getting a consistent load, does the washer's diameter impact the static friction being imparted on the surface?

I see two conflicting ways of viewing this:
1.) Friction doesn't care about surface area, so no the washer diameter doesn't matter (perhaps this is more relevant for linear friction, not rotational?)
2.) The larger the washer is, the higher the moment is since the friction is acting further from the axis of rotation

What's the answer and how can this solution be expressed mathematically?
 
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I don't see a conflict, the friction force stays the same but the moment is proportional to the diameter (assuming the normal force is equally distributed along the washer's diameter, which is not certain).
 
Your question is unclear:

1) If you are asking about the force to make the joint slip linearly, then your statement #1 is correct.

2) If you are asking about the torque to tighten the bolt, then your statement #2 is correct. The procedure is:
A) Determine if the bolt head is slipping on the washer or the washer is slipping on the joint.
B) Calculate the torque using the average diameter of the slipping surfaces, assuming the compressive stress is evenly distributed.

A quick search for bolt torque calculations did not find this, but it is in any book on machine design. It's in the chapter on bolted joints.
 
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