Tribology

Tribology is the science and engineering of friction, wear, and lubrication between surfaces in relative motion. It examines how surface interactions affect motion, energy loss, and material life.

Friction: Friction is the resistance to relative motion between surfaces in contact or between a body and a fluid. It is the force tribology measures and seeks to control at sliding interfaces.
Contact mechanics: Contact mechanics studies deformation and stress where solid bodies touch. It supplies the models for predicting real contact areas and pressures.
Rolling-element bearing: A rolling-element bearing supports relative motion using balls or rollers between races. Its performance depends on contact fatigue, lubricant supply, and friction control.
Boundary lubrication: Boundary lubrication occurs when a thin adsorbed or chemically formed layer carries much of the load between surfaces. It contrasts with full fluid-film separation when speed is low or load is high.
Wear: Wear is the progressive loss or deformation of material caused by contact with another surface or medium. Its mechanisms determine how long tribological components remain usable.
Surface metrology: Surface metrology measures the geometry and texture of material surfaces. Its measurements quantify the topography that shapes friction and lubricant retention.
Gear: A gear is a toothed machine element that transmits motion and torque through meshing teeth. Tooth contacts combine sliding and rolling, making lubrication and wear central design concerns.
Hydrodynamic lubrication: Hydrodynamic lubrication uses relative motion to generate pressure in a fluid film that separates surfaces. It represents the low-contact-friction regime at sufficient speed and lubricant supply.
Lubrication: Lubrication introduces a substance between surfaces to reduce friction, wear, or heat during relative motion. It changes contact conditions by separating surfaces or modifying their interaction.
Viscosity: Viscosity is a fluid's resistance to flow under applied shear. It helps determine whether a lubricant can sustain a separating film.

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