Friction, Wear, Lubrication, and Design

The three-day course explores the fundamentals and latest innovations in the study of friction, wear, lubrication, and design of tribological systems. Participants will acquire the skills needed to improve the reliability and durability of tribological systems. Learners will dive deep into fundamentals, trends, strategies, and modern methodologies needed to design the next generation tribological systems.

The study of friction, wear, and lubrication is of enormous practical importance. The functioning of many mechanical, electromechanical, and biological systems depends on appropriate friction management. Yet, about one-fifth of the energy used in industrial systems is wasted away  due to friction.

From a business viewpoint, improved tribological knowledge offers immense potential savings.  However, many engineers do not have  sufficient background in tribology. Moreover, most reference works of tribology provide little guidance for solving real-world problems.

This course presents current insights into tribology, focusing on concepts like elastic and elastoplastic deformation, micro-fracture, and surface interactions at the micro- and nano-scale. Special consideration will be given to the application of fundamental knowledge to control friction and wear behavior through lubrication and the selection of materials and coatings in practical situations. The course will also cover experimental methods, examine several tribological problems,  and  illustrate how engineers can apply fundamentals in the design of tribological components and systems.

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Program Outline

Day One 
1. Course Overview 
2. The Importance of Tribology 
3. Surface Topography and Surface Properties 
4. Sliding Friction: Laws and Theories 
5. Tribological Testing I: Instrumentation 
6. Tribological Testing II: Demonstrations 

Day Two

 7. Surface Temperature
 8. Sliding Wear
 9. Abrasive and Erosive Wear
10. Wear of Ceramics and Brittle Materials
11. Wear of Polymers
12. Wear of Coatings

Day Three

13. Liquid and Solid Lubricants
14. Boundary and Thin Film Lubrication
15. Fluid Fim Lubrication
16. EHD Lubrication: Gears and Rolling Element Bearings
17. Tribology by Design
18. Axiomatic Design

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