School of Mechanical Engineering (/mechanical)

Institute of Thermofluids (/thermofluids)

in Tribology and surface engineering (../index.shtml)
Current research (index.shtml)

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

exhaust emissions has been the priority of automobile manufacturers without

compromising the desired tribological performance. In general, a reduction in
noxious exhaust emissions from automobiles can be achieved through tribology
either by developing new engine oils that reduce friction and have low or no
sulphur, phosphorous and ash containing additives and/or by developing new
surface materials (alloys/coatings) that are less dependent on sulphur and
phosphorous containing engine oils. The application of tribological principles is
essential for the reliability of the vehicle, and even the smallest improvements in
engine efficiency, emission levels, and durability can have a major effect on the
world economy and the environment in the medium to long term given the huge
size of the global vehicle population.
Automobile and oil manufacturers are under increasing pressure from consumers
and competitors to design efficient engines capable of running on environmentally
friendly engine oils. Increasing demand for improved fuel economy and
environmental protection has meant that there has been increased focus on the use
of novel non-ferrous surface materials and coatings which have excellent
tribological properties. As engine lubricants have historically been formulated for
ferrous materials and react chemically with the surface, it is highly unlikely that
they will perform well on alternative surfaces. It is therefore crucial to understand
how the existing lubricants interact with non-ferrous coatings to be able to sensibly
approach the design of new additives for such surfaces.
Concerns over depleting fossil fuel reserves and energy security have resulted in
stringent legislation demanding automobiles use more renewable fuels, have
improved fuel economy and generate less harmful exhaust emissions. As a
consequence, alternative and environmentally sustainable biofuels are being given
significant attention on a global scale. Biofuel ethanol, the most viable and freely
available gasoline substitute, is being considered as a long term gasoline
replacement. The piston ring and cylinder wall interface is generally the largest
contributor to engine friction and this region of the engine also suffers the highest
levels of fuel dilution into the lubricant from unburnt fuel in the cylinder and water
contamination heightened by the presence of ethanol.
It is not just traditional machine elements require attention. Tribology problems are
pervasive in health technologies and the performance of living tissue. As humans
we are living longer and our mechanical joints often require repair or replacement
at a much earlier stage in our lives, such that the replacements must perform well
in more active younger individuals, must last longer and be capable of further repair
or replacement later in life. Adequate performance of prostheses relies on surface
interactions taking place as designed. Studying the self-healing and self-lubricating

properties of biological surfaces can lead to the design of intelligent engineered

surfaces.
Our laboratory facilities are extensive, with many basic tribometers, bespoke
simulation rigs and devices to test real applications, supported by analytical
instruments to characterise materials, surfaces and lubricants at the minute scales
required for this discipline. Alongside this sit theoretical studies of the tribology of a
wide range of engineering component systems to predict lubrication, friction and
wear and simulate the complex interactions between lubrication, friction and wear
during their lifetime. We have recently installed a state-of-the-art PVD (physical
vapour deposition) system (Hauzer) and have established a multi-capability thin
film coating partnership with Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam Universities.
We also lead and host the highly regarded annual international research
conference, the Leeds-Lyon Symposium on Tribology, with colleagues at the
University of Lyon in France. This event has become a regular annual feature in the
international research calendar since its inception in 1974 and attracts researchers
and practitioners in tribology from all around the world.
Current Research
Improved friction prediction for automobile engine valve trains (frictionprediction.shtml)

Impact of ethanol biofuel on automotive piston ring friction (impactof-ethanol-biofuel.shtml)

Lubricant misting in the piston assembly of automotive engines: cause,

effect and control (lubricant-misting.shtml)
Multiscale bearing design (bearing-design.shtml)
Fretting damage (fretting-damage.shtml)
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