University of Lancashire
Tribology is the science and engineering of interacting surfaces in relative motion. It encompasses the study of friction, wear, lubrication, surface engineering and contact mechanics. At the University of Lancashire, tribology forms an important component of engineering research and education through the internationally recognised Jost Institute for Tribotechnology, which promotes research, teaching and industrial collaboration in tribology and surface engineering.
Research combines mechanical engineering, materials science, chemistry, physics, computational modelling and manufacturing to improve the performance, efficiency, durability and sustainability of engineering systems across aerospace, automotive, marine, biomedical and industrial applications.
| Area | Description |
|---|---|
| Friction | Forces resisting motion between contacting surfaces. |
| Wear | Material loss resulting from repeated contact. |
| Lubrication | Reducing friction and wear using lubricants. |
| Surface Engineering | Coatings and treatments that improve durability. |
| Contact Mechanics | Stress, deformation and surface interaction. |
| Condition Monitoring | Monitoring machine health and lubricant performance. |
These themes reflect the University's recognised expertise in active tribology, bio-tribology, fluid film technology, surface engineering, surface measurement and condition monitoring.
| Sector | Applications |
|---|---|
| Aerospace | Spacecraft mechanisms, bearings, gears and actuators. |
| Automotive | Engines, piston rings, bearings and transmissions. |
| Marine Engineering | Marine diesel engines and propulsion systems. |
| Biomedical Engineering | Artificial joints, implants and prosthetics. |
| Manufacturing | Cutting tools, machine elements and production systems. |
| Renewable Energy | Wind turbine bearings and gearbox reliability. |
| Method | Applications |
|---|---|
| Finite Element Analysis (FEA) | Contact stress and structural deformation. |
| Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) | Lubricant flow and thermal analysis. |
| Multi-body Dynamics | Machine and bearing simulation. |
| Numerical Optimisation | Tribological system design. |
| Artificial Intelligence | Predictive maintenance and fault diagnosis. |
| Digital Twins | Real-time monitoring of engineering systems. |
The Engineering Innovation Centre provides modern laboratories and specialist engineering facilities supporting tribology research, advanced manufacturing and industrial collaboration.
The University works with industrial partners through research, consultancy, testing, knowledge transfer and professional development. The Jost Institute collaborates with organisations in aerospace, automotive, marine engineering and space engineering, and maintains international partnerships including the European Space Tribology Laboratory and leading universities and research institutes.
| Sector | Typical Applications |
|---|---|
| Aerospace | Space mechanisms, aircraft systems and lubrication. |
| Automotive | Engine friction reduction and durability. |
| Marine | Large diesel engine lubrication. |
| Energy | Wind turbines and rotating machinery. |
| Manufacturing | Surface engineering and machine reliability. |
| Healthcare | Artificial joints and biomaterials. |