Tribosystems

A tribosystem is any mechanical system in which relative motion between surfaces is accompanied by friction, wear, and lubrication. It includes two or more interacting bodies, a lubricant or solid lubricant, and the surrounding environment that influences the contact, such as temperature, humidity, and contaminants. The study of tribosystems falls within tribology, which seeks to understand and control energy loss, material removal, and heat generation during sliding, rolling, or combination of motions.

Key components are the contacting bodies, the lubricant or lubricants, and the supporting structures that constrain motion and load. Surface topography, material properties, and coatings determine how surfaces interact. The lubricant can be a liquid, gas, or solid layer, influencing separation of surfaces and formation of lubrication regimes, from boundary to hydrodynamic to elastohydrodynamic contact.

Common phenomena include friction, wear, surface adhesion, plastic deformation, and tribochemical reactions. Wear mechanisms include abrasion, adhesion, fatigue, and corrosion-assisted wear. Temperature rise and pressure affect material performance and lubricant behavior. Modeling uses contact mechanics (e.g., Hertz) and wear laws (e.g., Archard) along with finite element analysis and tribo-chemical models.

Applications span bearings, gears, seals, brakes, machine tools, and microelectromechanical systems. Design aims to minimize energy losses, extend life, and prevent seizure. Tribosystems are evaluated via tribometers and life-prediction methods, with attention to material pairing, coatings (e.g., DLC), lubrication strategy, contamination control, and maintenance to ensure reliability.