Tribology

(MDP 413)
First Year,
Mechanical Engineering Dept.,
Faculty of Engineering,
Fayoum University

Dr. Ahmed Salah Abou Taleb

1
 Prerequisites and purpose
Basic knowledge of mechanical engineering and
material science is required.

This course is suitable for students of

mechanical engineering, machinery design
and material science branches
 Syllabus
• Friction theories.
• Wear phenomenon.
• Wear mechanisms.
• Theories of lubrication.
• Hydrodynamic journal bearings.
• Hydrodynamic (tilt-pad) thrust bearings.
• Lubricants.
• Seals.
• Hydrostatic bearings and applications.
 Teaching and Learning Methods
 Power Point Lectures.
 Assignments.
 Quizzes.
Weighting of Assessment
Final Exam 70
Mid Term Exam 20
Assignment 20
Oral/Practical Exam 15
Total Marks 125
 Reading References
• Stolarski, T. A., “Tribology in Machine Design”,
Butterworth Heinemann, 2000.
• Stachowiak, G. W., and A. W. Batchelor,
“Engineering Tribology”, 2nd ed., Butterworth
Heinemann, 2000.
• NEALE, M. J., “The Tribology Handbook”, 2nd
ed., Butterworth Heinemann, 1999.
 Tribology Definition
Tribology is defined as the science and technology of
interacting surfaces in relative motion.

having its origin in the Greek word tribos meaning

rubbing.

It is a study of the friction, lubrication, and wear of

engineering surfaces with a view to understanding
surface interactions in detail and then prescribing
improvements in given applications.
 Tribology Definition
bearings, gears, cams and tappets, tires, brakes, and piston
rings are examples of parts rubbing each other.
All of these components have two surfaces which come
into contact, support a load, and move with respect to
each other.

Sometimes it is desirable to have low friction, to save

energy, or high friction, as in the case of brakes.
Usually we don't want the components to wear so they are
lubricated.
 Tribologist
The work of the tribologist is truly interdisciplinary,
embodying:

Physics, chemistry, mechanics, thermodynamics, and

materials science.

Encompassing a large, complex, and inter-winded area

of:

Machine design, reliability, and performance where

relative motion between surfaces is involved.
 Introduction
It is estimated that approximately one-third of the world's
energy resources in present use appear as friction in one form
or another.
This represents a staggering loss of potential power for
today's mechanized society.
The purpose of research in tribology is understandably the
minimization and elimination of unnecessary waste at all
levels of technology where the rubbing of surfaces is
involved.
 Introduction
One of the important objectives in tribology is the
regulation of the magnitude of frictional forces according to
whether we require:
a minimum (as in machinery) or
a maximum (as in the case of anti-skid surfaces).
this objective can be realized only after a fundamental
understanding of the frictional process is obtained for all
conditions of temperature, sliding velocity, lubrication,
surface finish, and material properties.
 Introduction
Surfaces may look smooth, but on a microscopic scale they are
rough. When two surfaces are pressed together, contact is made at
the peaks of the roughness or asperities. The real area of contact can
be much less than the apparent or nominal area.
At the points of intimate contact, adhesion, or even local welding,
can take place. If we want to slide one surface over the other then
we have to apply a force to break those junctions.
 Introduction
The most important criterion from a design viewpoint
in a given application is whether dry or lubricated
conditions are to prevail at the sliding interface. In
many applications such as machinery, it is known that
only one condition shall prevail (usually lubrication),
although several regimes of lubrication may exist.
 Friction Force
The friction force is the resistance encountered when one
body moves relative to another body with which it is in
contact.
The static friction force is how hard you have to push
something to make it move,
Whilst, the dynamic friction force is how hard you push to
keep it moving.
The ratio of the frictional force F to the normal force N is
called the coefficient of friction μ.
 Friction Force
Usually we want low friction (in a car engine for example)
so we do not waste excessive energy getting it moving.
But in same case we need high friction, in brakes for
example.
Friction is also important for car tires to grip the road and
between shoes and the ground for walking.
 When Things Wear Out
• If one surface is slid over another then the asperities come into
contact and there is a possibility that wear can occur. The
breaking of all the little junction can cause material removal
(adhesive wear). Or the asperities of a hard surface can plough
grooves in a soft surface (abrasive wear).
• Wear is usually unwelcome; it leads to increased clearances
between moving components, increased mechanical loading and
maybe even fatigue.
• In grinding and polishing process the generation of high wear
rates is desirable.
 When Things Wear Out
• As well as adhesive and abrasive wear, there are
other mechanisms whereby material can be
removed from a surface. Erosive wear occurs when
particles (or even water droplet) strike a surface and
break off a bit of the material. Hard particles can
become trapped in contacts and cause material to be
removed from one or both of the surfaces. One of
the main reasons for frequent change of car engine
oil is that it becomes contaminated
with hard debris particles
that can wear out the
engine components.