Tribotronics for Friction Control and Advanced Management of Machine Elements

Tribotronic machine elements achieve active control by incorporating sensing, control and actuation into engineering components that are otherwise conventionally passive. There has been a trend towards the development and use of active tribological (tribotronic) components over recent years. This paper briefly recounts the historical development of tribotronics, then presents two examples of research on components as case studies based on research by the authors to demonstrate how tribotronics can drive forward the technical capabilities of two common machine elements. In this context, this paper deals with the tribotronics of tilting-pad thrust bearings as well as active lubrication for internal combustion engine cylinder systems. The aim of the paper is to demonstrate how tribotronic technology can be applied to realise transformative reductions in energy loss by controlling friction well beyond those that could be gained by more conventional improvements in design or the use of enhanced materials, In addition to the technical discussion, this paper incorporates a short reflection the very significant financial and environmental gains that can potentially be obtained by using tribotronic components in the field. Finally, closing remarks are made regarding the more general advantages of tribotronic approaches and the potential future of this technology.