Blandfriktion

Blandfriktion is a term used in Swedish tribology to denote mixed or composite friction that arises when multiple friction mechanisms act simultaneously at a contact interface. The word blends bland (mixed) with friktion (friction), and the concept is applied to describe situations where dry friction, boundary friction, and viscous or hydrodynamic lubrication contribute to the total resistive force in a system.

In mechanical engineering, blandfriktion is most relevant in bearings, gears, seals, and other components where a lubricant film coexists with asperity contact. Factors that influence blandfriktion include surface roughness and material pairing, lubricant type and film thickness, load and speed, temperature, and contaminants. The resulting friction behavior often differs from purely dry or purely lubricated regimes, affecting energy losses, wear, noise, and vibration. Engineers may characterize blandfriktion using an effective friction coefficient that captures contributions from the different mechanisms and by mapping performance across regimes such as boundary, mixed, and full-film lubrication.

Modeling approaches for blandfriktion commonly rely on composite or multi-regime friction models, supported by experimental data from tribological tests such as pin-on-disk or bearing torque measurements. These studies help predict how changes in operating conditions or surface treatments alter the overall frictional response.

Outside technical contexts, the term may be used metaphorically to describe processes where several kinds of resistance—mechanical, logistical, or administrative—act in concert, producing an overall mixed friction that slows progress.