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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/K88651/01
Title: FILM THICKNESS AND FRICTION IN MIXED LUBRICATION
Principal Investigator: Spikes, Professor HA
Other Investigators:
Olver, Professor A
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department: Mechanical Engineering
Organisation: Imperial College London
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 October 1996 Ends: 30 September 1998 Value (£): 132,802
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Eng. Dynamics & Tribology
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
The regime of mixed lubrication is found in many important practical systems such as cams, gears and pistons. In thses it has direct relevance to friction, wear and micropitting performance. Despite its importance we still know very little about mixed lubrication, particularly when film thickness is less than out-of-contact surface roughness. A key reson for that is that very little basic experimental research has been carried out to investigate mixed lubrication, probably because of a paucity of suitable investigative tools. This study will apply and combine two very recent-developed techniques to study mixed lubrication, (i) in-contact spacer layer imaging to map real roughness within lubricated contacts and (ii) friction/entrainment speed plotting, to study how friction varies with film thickness across the mixed regime for surfaces of different roughness.The work will determine the influence of surface roughness on film thickness to be determined and will enable normal and shear forces experienced by asperities in mixed regime to be quantified as a function of lubricant properties. This information is needed to develop predicitve models of friction and wear in engines and to understand and thus control micropitting of gears.
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Organisation Website: http://www.imperial.ac.uk