Engine Tribology
Engine Tribology
Engine Tribology
The study of friction, lubrication and wear under the collective name "Tribology"
has been an area of research and knowledge transfer in the School of Mechanical
Engineering for over a century. Tribology has long been recognised a key
contributor in terms of controlling friction and wear to maximise the scientific
benefits and their application in industry and society. As such, tribological research
is extremely broad, covering basic, strategic and applied threads with both
analytical and experimental contributions. Understanding the complex
interrelationship between surface materials and coatings, the lubricant and the
operating environment of mechanisms and machines is key to the way forward.
The automotive industry strives to meet the ever more stringent government
legislation and customer requirements, dictating the need for better fuel economy
and to limit environmental pollution caused by vehicles. Tribology is a key
contributor to these efforts through the control of frictional energy losses, wear and
oil consumption. The automobile consists of many hundreds of tribological
components, from bearings, pistons, transmissions, clutches, gears, to wiper
blades, tyres, and electrical contacts, many of which rely on the interaction of their
surfaces to function. Reduction of sulphur, phosphorous, CO, CO2 and NOx in
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