Index: /issm/trunk-jpl/src/c/classes/Loads/Friction.cpp
===================================================================
--- /issm/trunk-jpl/src/c/classes/Loads/Friction.cpp	(revision 27163)
+++ /issm/trunk-jpl/src/c/classes/Loads/Friction.cpp	(revision 27164)
@@ -321,10 +321,10 @@
 
 	/*This routine calculates the basal friction coefficient
-	  alpha2= drag^2 * Neff ^r * | vel | ^(s-1), with Neff=rho_ice*g*thickness+rho_ice*g*base, r=q/p and s=1/p**/
+	  alpha2= drag^2 * Neff ^r * | vel | ^(s-1), with Neff=rho_ice*g*thickness+rho_ice*g*base, r=q/p and s=1/p
+	  alpha2= min(drag^2 * Neff ^r * | vel | ^(s-1), drag_coulomb^2 * Neff*/
 
 	/*diverse: */
 	IssmDouble  r,s;
 	IssmDouble  drag_p, drag_q;
-	IssmDouble  thickness,base,floatation_thickness,sealevel;
 	IssmDouble  drag_coefficient,drag_coefficient_coulomb;
 	IssmDouble  alpha2,alpha2_coulomb;
@@ -333,7 +333,4 @@
 	element->GetInputValue(&drag_p,gauss,FrictionPEnum);
 	element->GetInputValue(&drag_q,gauss,FrictionQEnum);
-	element->GetInputValue(&thickness, gauss,ThicknessEnum);
-	element->GetInputValue(&base, gauss,BaseEnum);
-	element->GetInputValue(&sealevel, gauss,SealevelEnum);
 	element->GetInputValue(&drag_coefficient, gauss,FrictionCoefficientEnum);
 	element->GetInputValue(&drag_coefficient_coulomb, gauss,FrictionCoefficientcoulombEnum);
@@ -360,11 +357,10 @@
 	}
 
-	floatation_thickness=0;
-	if(base<0) floatation_thickness=-(rho_water/rho_ice)*base;
 	if(vmag==0.){
 		alpha2_coulomb=0.;
 	}
 	else{
-		alpha2_coulomb=drag_coefficient_coulomb*drag_coefficient_coulomb*rho_ice*gravity*max(0.,thickness-floatation_thickness)/vmag;
+		//alpha2_coulomb=drag_coefficient_coulomb*drag_coefficient_coulomb*rho_ice*gravity*max(0.,thickness-floatation_thickness)/vmag;
+		alpha2_coulomb=drag_coefficient_coulomb*drag_coefficient_coulomb*Neff/vmag;
 	}
 
Index: /issm/trunk-jpl/src/m/classes/frictioncoulomb.m
===================================================================
--- /issm/trunk-jpl/src/m/classes/frictioncoulomb.m	(revision 27163)
+++ /issm/trunk-jpl/src/m/classes/frictioncoulomb.m	(revision 27164)
@@ -64,5 +64,5 @@
 		end % }}}
 		function disp(self) % {{{
-			disp(sprintf('Basal shear stress parameters: Sigma_b = min( coefficient^2 * Neff ^r * |u_b|^(s-1) * u_b\n, coefficientcoulomb^2 * rho_i * g * (h-h_f)) (effective stress Neff=rho_ice*g*thickness+rho_water*g*bed, r=q/p and s=1/p, floatation thickness h_f=max(0,-rho_sw / rho_i * bed))'));
+			disp(sprintf('Basal shear stress parameters: Sigma_b = min( coefficient^2 * Neff ^r * |u_b|^(s-1) * u_b\n, coefficientcoulomb^2 * Neff) (effective stress Neff=rho_ice*g*thickness+rho_water*g*bed, r=q/p and s=1/p, floatation thickness h_f=max(0,-rho_sw / rho_i * bed))'));
 			fielddisplay(self,'coefficient','power law (Weertman) friction coefficient [SI]');
 			fielddisplay(self,'coefficientcoulomb','Coulomb friction coefficient [SI]');
Index: /issm/trunk-jpl/src/m/classes/frictioncoulomb.py
===================================================================
--- /issm/trunk-jpl/src/m/classes/frictioncoulomb.py	(revision 27163)
+++ /issm/trunk-jpl/src/m/classes/frictioncoulomb.py	(revision 27164)
@@ -28,5 +28,5 @@
     def __repr__(self):  # {{{
         s = 'Basal shear stress parameters: Sigma_b = min(coefficient^2 * Neff ^r * |u_b|^(s - 1) * u_b,\n'
-        s += 'coefficientcoulomb^2 * rho_i * g * (h - h_f)), (effective stress Neff = rho_ice * g * thickness + rho_water * g * bed, r = q / p and s = 1 / p).\n'
+        s += 'coefficientcoulomb^2 * Neff), (effective stress Neff = rho_ice * g * thickness + rho_water * g * bed, r = q / p and s = 1 / p).\n'
         s += '{}\n'.format(fielddisplay(self, "coefficient", "power law (Weertman) friction coefficient [SI]"))
         s += '{}\n'.format(fielddisplay(self, "coefficientcoulomb", "Coulomb friction coefficient [SI]"))