This paper analyses two different representations of Coulomb friction in the context of a dynamic simulation of the torsional vibrations of a driven drill-string. A simple model is used to compare the relative merits of a piecewise analytic approach using a discontinuous friction profile to a numerical integration using a smooth nonlinear representation of the Coulomb friction. In both cases the effects of viscous damping on the excitation of torsional relaxation oscillations are exhibited.