Tribology: 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. 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