UWA Handbooks 2010 - Units
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UWA Handbooks 2010 - Units

Unit details


MECH4407 Engineering Tribology and Maintenance [UG]

Credit 6 points
Availability Semester 2 (see Timetable)
Old unit code 630.427, AMEC4407
Outcomes Students are able to understand the fundamentals of tribology, the fundamentals of lubrication mechanisms and wear processes, and typical industrial failure mechanisms and failure prevention; develop an ability to apply the knowledge of basic science and engineering fundamentals; undertake problem identification, formulation and solution; appreciate the expectation of the need to undertake lifelong learning; communicate effectively; utilise a systems approach to design and operational performance; function effectively as an individual and in a multidisciplinary and multicultural team; understand the social, cultural, global and environmental responsibilities of the professional engineer and the need for sustainable development; and understand the professional and ethical responsibilities of the engineering profession and develop a commitment to them.

Of particular importance is the ability to learn and adapt acquired knowledge to new situations. Also important is the ability to write and speak clearly, concisely and logically; think and reason logically and creatively; question accepted wisdom; develop mature judgement and responsibility; and continue through life to learn from a variety of sources and experiences.
Content This unit is an introduction to the field of tribology, designed from the viewpoint of the mechanical engineer. The individual sections emphasise a fundamental understanding of the basic lubrication and wear mechanisms before proceeding into more practical applications.

Topics include (1) physical properties of lubricants and their composition; (2) a review of fundamental lubrication theories including hydrodynamic, hydrostatic, elastohydrodynamic and boundary lubrication; (3) convergent wedges, thrust bearings with fixed and tilting pads; (4) converging-diverging wedges, journal bearings, oil whirl and heating effects in hydrodynamics; (5) hydrostatic bearings, optimisation, squeeze films; (6) non-conformal contacts, contact stresses, EHL film thickness evaluation, effects of sliding and traction, and temperature effects; (7) basic mechanisms of boundary lubrication, oil additives, extreme pressure lubrication; (8) characterisation of interacting solids, materials and surface topography characteristics; (9) surface engineering, surface treatments and surface coatings; (10) tribology of polymers and polymer composites, film transfer, wear mechanisms, effects of lubricants, polymer bearings; (11) basic mechanisms of wear; (12) abrasive, adhesive, corrosive and contact fatigue, examples of wear in practice; (13) lubricant specifications and testing; (14) lubricant selection; (15) tribological failure and prevention in industrial machinery (rolling and sliding bearings, gears and seals), transportation systems (engines, brakes and tyres), manufacturing (cutting tools and dyes), mineral processing, oil and gas industry; (16) material selection for wear prevention, tribological testing; (17) condition monitoring based on oil analysis, fundamentals, analysis of used oils, wear debris analysis and online monitors; (18) computational methods in bearing analysis; and (19) bio-tribology.
Assessment This comprises an open-book examination (70 per cent) and laboratory reports/assignments (30 per cent).

Supplementary assessment is not available in this unit except in the case of a bachelor's pass degree student who has obtained a mark of 45 to 49 and is currently enrolled in this unit, and it is the only remaining unit that the student must pass in order to complete the course.
Unit Co-ordinator(s) Winthrop Professor Gwidon Stachowiak
Location UWA (Crawley)
Mode on-campus
Unit Rules
Advisable prior study: fluid mechanics, calculus and completion of 72 points of engineering units
Contact hours—lectures: 39 hrs; tutorials: 13 hrs; labs: 9 hrs
Unit web page http://www.mech.uwa.edu.au/undergrads/sem2.html
[Some unit web pages are still under construction and will be available in 2010.]
Text

Stachowiak, G. W. and Batchelor, A. W. Engineering Tribology, 2nd edn/3rd edn: Butterworth-Heinemann 2001/Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann 2005

Recommended
reading

Cameron, A. Basic Lubrication Theory: Ellis Horwood 1981
Czichos, H. Tribology: Elsevier 1978



  • The availability of units in Semester 1, 2, etc. was correct at the time of going to press but may be subject to change.
  • Assistance with study skills, including English language skills, is available free of charge from Student Services for all enrolled students (see http://www.studentservices.uwa.edu.au/ss/learning). Student Services location: Second Floor, South Wing, Guild Village; telephone: 6488 2423.
  • Books and other materials wherever listed may be subject to change. Book lists relating to 'Preliminary Reading', 'Recommended Reading' and 'Textbooks' are, in most cases, available at the University Co-operative Bookshop (from early January) and appropriate administrative offices for students to consult. For first-year units the Bookshop will endeavour to make available photocopies of book lists for individual units. Books marked with an asterisk (*) are available in paperback.
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