Principles and Applications of Tribology

The objectives of this chapter are to: (i) Define the term tribology; (ii) Outline the significance of the knowledge of tribology in developing mechanical systems such as bearings and gears, machine elements and numerous biomechanical systems; (iii) Outline and explain the concept of tribology and tribological interactions; (iv) Identify, outline and discuss the fundamentals of tribology; (v) Define the term tribosystems; (vi) Outline and describe the subfields of tribology; and (vii) Outline and discuss the multidisciplinary nature of tribology.

The objectives of this chapter are to: (i) Define term friction and specify and describe its types; (ii) Outline and describe the ways of reducing friction between rubbing or sliding surfaces; (iii) Identify and outline the rules of sliding friction; (iv) Identify, outline and describe coefficient of friction and its measurement; (v) Define the term lubrication and outline its objectives; (vi) Identify, outline and briefly explain factors that affect lubrication; (vii) Outline and highlight the fundamental principles of lubrication to minimise friction and protect against wear, e.g., of mechanical systems such as bearings and gears, machine elements and biomechanical systems, among others; (viii) Identify, outline and discuss varieties of lubrication; (ix) Identify, outline and discuss types of lubricating films; (x) Identify, outline and describe lubrication regimes; (xi) Define the term wear and highlight the working environmental factors that affect it; and (xii) Identify, outline and discuss classifications of wear modes.

The objectives of this chapter are to: (i) Define the terms viscosity, dynamic viscosity and kinematic viscosity; (ii) Highlight the fundamental principles of viscosity in the selection of a suitable oil for a given application with respect to temperature; (iii) Identify and describe the Newton’s law of viscosity; (iv) Identity, outline and discuss the classifications of engine oil viscosity according to their viscosity ranges and grades; (v) Outline and discuss manual transmissions and axles viscosity classifications according to their viscosity ranges and grades; (vi) Define the term viscosity index; and (vii) Outline the fundamental principles of viscosity index with respect to the rate of change in viscosity relative to temperature fluctuations, among others.

The objectives of this chapter are to: (i) Define the term surface topography; (ii) Outline and highlight the classifications of surface irregularities; (iii) Identify, outline and discuss the components of surface topography; (iv) Identify, outline and describe the different methods for surface topography characterisation; and (v) Define the term surface asperity.

The objectives of this chapter are to: (i) Define the term lubricants and identify, outline and discuss the principal types of lubricants; (ii) Identify, outline and describe the three typical inorganic compound kinds that could be employed as solid lubricants; (iii) Identify, outline and discuss those significant properties of commercial fluid lubricants; (iv) Identify, outline and discuss the reasons the effectiveness of the lubricating oil deteriorates over time or requires replacement after some time of usage; (v) Outline and discuss the lubricating oil selection and materials for tribological applications; (vi) Define the term additives and outline their roles and functions within lubricants; (vii) Identify, outline and describe the commonly used additives; (viii) Outline and discuss the tribology of rolling elements and applications; and (ix) Analyse, derive and discuss the power absorbed to overcome the viscous resistance due to the lubricating oil’s viscosity in rolling bearings, such as journal, foot-step and collar bearings.