The Multiscale Tribology Laboratory
at Auburn University
Tribology: The study of friction, wear and lubrication of contacting surfaces.
Control friction and wear: Reduce energy loss, maintenance costs, and failures.
Summary of Research: The goal of the Multiscale Tribology Laboratory is to investigate and model the physical phenomena that distress and govern contacting components through experimental and computational techniques. We also do research in the area of mechanical and electrical machine component design.
Figure: Rough surface contact modeling depicting the real area of contact.
Current and Past Research Topics:
Friction and Wear Testing
Lubricant Formulation and Testing
Nanoparticle Colloidal Lubricant Additives
Theoretical Friction Modeling
High Current and Conventional Electrical Connectors
Multiscale Contact Mechanics
Multiphysics Thermo-Electro-Mechanical FEM Simulations
Articular Cartilage Property Measurement and Modeling
Biomimetic and Self-adapting Surfaces
Surface Texturing and Engineering
Automobile Tire Testing and Modeling
Solenoid Valve Reliability and Modeling
Thrust Washer Bearings
Electrical and Thermal Contact Resistance
Numerical Simulation of Complex Tribological Systems
Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication
Figure: SEM of scuffed thrust bearing surface
This laboratory has available many useful experimental and computational tools. This includes a new Bruker/CETR UMT-3 friction and wear test machine that is capable of measuring the load and frictional torque between a rotating sample and an opposing surface. The rig is very versatile and can handle samples of many different sizes and materials. In addition, it can be easily adapted to incorporate different geometries such as a three ball test and additional sensors as needed. Data from the rig is digitally recorded through a high speed data acquisition board and PC. The lab also contains the computational hardware, commercial and custom software needed to perform comprehensive tribological simulations. A rotating tire test rig is also available for use.
A Falex Pin on Vee friction and wear test machine is available for standard testing. The lab also has several ring-on-ring fatigue test machines and Polymet rolling contact fatigue test rigs. One unit has already been retrofitted to test bearings at high temperatures for use in the oven conveyors in the food baking industry (see the unit in use here: Baking Bearing Movie). Multiple surface profilometers, atomic force microscopes, scanning electron microscopes, and nanoindentors are also available on the Auburn University campus.
Pictures and more information about the capabilities of each piece of equipment is listed farther below.
Equipment Information Flyers
UMT-3 Universal Macro Materials Friction and Wear Tester (Tribometer)
Falex Pin and Vee Block Friction and Wear Test Machine
Stylus Profilometer (for measuring surface roughness and profiles)
High Temperature Bearing Test Rig
Disk on Disk Friction and Wear Test Apparatus
Micro-elastohydrodynamic Lubrication Test Rig (for micro-scale features)
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The UMT-3 performing a stiffness test on a submerged cartilage sample.
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Bruker/Veeco Dektak 150 Profilometer measuring the roughness of a tested electrical connector. |
Falex Pin and Vee Block Friction and Wear Test Machine |
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Large view of the surface fatigue test machine converted for measuring bearing operation at high temperatures. |
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The Alabama Microelectronics Science and Technology Center (AMSTC) is also located at and run by Auburn University. The AMSTC is a multidisciplinary research facility in the College of Engineering that is capable of fabricating a wide range micro and nano-scale components.
A typical contacting surface appears like the figure below where there are peaks on the surface (asperities) which can come into contact if the lubrication film is not thick enough. The contact and friction of surface interfaces will be affected by thermal effects, bulk material properties, local chemical interactions, dynamics (motion), and geometry.
The asperity contours are exaggerated in the figure.
Tribology as a field has many applications including nanotechnology, MEMs, Automotive, Bioengineering and many other industrial applications. Friction and wear between mechanical components has long been of great interest to engineers and scientists. It is commonly known that excessive wear of components can lead to altered performance and premature failure of machinery. Friction is likely to also affect the efficiency of systems by converting mechanical energy into non-recoverable thermal energy. Hence, it is of great importance that bearings, which are designed to decrease the friction and wear between contacting mechanical components, perform to a level acceptable for their individual application.
For additional information please see the publications page.
Other Topics of Interest:
Design of Machine Components
Through improved modeling and innovative design the performance of machine components can be improved. By integrating recent findings into models of machine components their behavior can be better understood and designed for.
