Coulomb damping is a type of constant mechanical damping in which the system's kinetic energy is absorbed via sliding friction (the friction generated by the relative motion of two surfaces that press against each other).
He later published a work on friction in 1781 entitled "Theory of Simple Machines" for an Academy of Sciences contest.
Coulomb friction considers this under two distinct modes: either static, or kinetic.
The force Fs exerted between the objects does exceed—in magnitude—the product of the normal force N and the coefficient of static friction μs: Kinetic friction on the other hand, occurs when two objects are undergoing relative motion, as they slide against each other.
The force Fk exerted between the moving objects is equal in magnitude to the product of the normal force N and the coefficient of kinetic friction μk: Regardless of the mode, friction always acts to oppose the objects' relative motion.
The normal force is taken perpendicularly to the direction of relative motion; under the influence of gravity, and in the common case of an object supported by a horizontal surface, the normal force is just the weight of the object itself.
As there is no relative motion under static friction, no work is done, and hence no energy can be dissipated.
On a horizontal surface, the normal force is constant and equal to the weight of the block by Newton's third law, i.e. As stated earlier,
A real-life example of Coulomb damping occurs in large structures with non-welded joints such as airplane wings.
The magnitude of sliding friction is a constant value; independent of surface area, displacement or position, and velocity.
The system undergoing Coulomb damping is periodic or oscillating and restrained by the sliding friction.
As time progresses, the object sliding slows and the distance it travels during these oscillations becomes smaller until it reaches zero, the equilibrium point.