Engineering Tribology

by G.W. Stachowiak, University of Western Australia, Perth and A.W. Batchelor, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Elsevier, Tribology Series Volume 24, 1993.

Engineering Tribology is a book providing a comprehensive treatment of the subject tribology. It is intended to provide any graduate in engineering or materials science with an understanding of the fundamental concepts of friction, wear and lubrication. A basic feature of the book is the emphasis on describing various concepts in an accessible manner for the benefit of non-specialist. This principle is applied from the beginning of the book, where the reader is introduced to the fundamental concept of tribology, i.e. that friction and wear are controlled by thin films of material interposed between the bodies in dynamic contact. This concept is then often used to show how the various topics in tribology are interrelated to form one coherent subject.

 The truism 'one picture says a thousand words' is scrupulously applied in this book to provide the reader with a direct graphical illustration of the mechanisms controlling tribological phenomena. Carefully prepared diagrams allow rapid appreciation of the basic ideas and facts in tribology.

What is in the book?

• The book opens with the description of typical lubricants and their characteristics followed by the detailed description of various lubrication regimes. The analytical aspects of tribology which relate to various lubrication regimes are given full emphasis in this book.
• A detailed derivation of basic equations in hydrodynamic lubrication is followed by a guide to numerical analysis (computation) of hydrodynamic bearing characteristics.
• The numerical analysis of hydrodynamic lubrication is supported by a number of computer programs (i.e. source code is provided) which are included in the book. The example of test data for each program is also supplied to allow confirmation of the accuracy of any copy made of the programs.
• The description of hydrodynamic lubrication regime is followed by the description of hydrostatic and elastohydrodynamic lubrication with various numerical examples in which the key parameters are clearly defined in SI units.
• All major forms of wear are explained in detail and reasons are given why some materials resist wear better than others.
• The difference between various forms of wear is clearly illustrated to demonstrate the need for careful analysis of the prevailing form of wear in any particular problem.
• The control of wear is given extensive treatment with a thorough discussion of lubricant additives, solid lubricants and surface coatings.
• The effectiveness of coatings in suppressing specific forms of wear is discussed together with the methods of coatings deposition.
• The book contains 872 pages, 474 figures and 44 tables. More than 1000 references are provided to give the reader access to more specialized information if required.

Reviewer's Comments

The book can be highly recommended to all those engaged in researching and applying tribology. I know of no better book on this intriguing topic.

Further information

For more information go to Elsevier website.

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