Home | Research projects | Courses and modules | 3. b semester - Lulea University of Technology, Sweden

Course Overview

Module objectives

After completing this course you will be able to:

• understand the possibilities and limitations of simulations in tribology
• understand the fundamentals of lubrication theory
• understand how to model full film and mixed lubrication
• know how elastohydrodynamic lubrication is modelled and how models can be used for simulations of gear teeth contacts
• write a computer program which solves the lubrication theory equations

Outline syllabus

• Introduction – Why modelling and simulations in tribology? What type of simulations can be made?
• Lubrication theory – Flows in thin films, the thin film approximation. Reynolds equation.
• The lubrication problem – Governing equations and boundary conditions (RL)
• How to solve the equations? Introduction to numerical methods used to solve Reynolds equation, load balance and more.
• An all regimes model (AA) – How to model surface roughness effects?
• The flow factor approach. Contact mechanics
• Computer lab in A1520: Finite difference solver for Reynolds equation
• Elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) – Governing equations, numerical techniques
• EHL in gears – what can we learn from simulations?
• Wear simulations – can wear process be modelled and simulated?
• Wear models and simulation methods
• Typical results and their applicability
• Computer lab in A1520: Finite difference solver for Reynolds equation, continuation
• Mixed lubrication – how to use a two scale model which takes both hydrodynamic action and contact mechanics into account? Some results from on-going research
• Modelling of thermal effects in tribology
• Running-in effects in tribology
• Computer lab in A1520: Using multiphysics software for simulations of tribology

Monitoring of student progress:

• Computing work
• Assignment
• Written exam

Partners

The key academic groups of TRIBOS consortium are leading and world renown in their own field of Tribology and Surface engineering. They are very complementary from point of view of surfaces, lubricants and interfaces, as well as engineering component design. Thus, their involvement in a single programme enables integration of the whole range of tribology sub-areas required for successful application solutions.