LABORATORY DETAILS

Introduction to Tribology

The relative motion between interacting solids has been a topic of fundamental concern in various natural and artificial mechanisms. Tribology is an important domain of science that delineates the behavior of interacting surfaces-associated practices, and mainly emphasizes on phenomenon of friction, wear and lubrication. Tribology integrates the expertise of physics, chemistry, materials science, mechanical engineering and further broadens its discipline by encompassing concepts of medical and biological sciences in instances that include interacting systems in living beings. The level of progress and success achieved by the today’s engineering owes much to the advancement in tribology. Over the decades, tribology has outspread from transportation and power generation to medicine and health sectors, food processing industry, and cosmetics. The ever-widening applicability spectrum has imparted immense significance to tribology in all the technological facets of modern world.

Faculty Coordinator: Dr. Suresh Kumar Reddy Narala (nskreddy@hyderabad.bits-pilani.ac.in)

Laboratory Technical Assistant: Mr. B. Laxman

Location: E -220

Significant Equipments

Pin on Disc Tribometer

Technical Specifications:
1. Load Range: Up to 200N
2. Frictional Force Measurement: 0 to 200N
3. Rotational Speed: 200 to 2000rpm
4. Compound Wear Measurement: 0 to 1200µm
Funded by: ABG
Application: Pin on Disc Tribometer is used to characterize the tribological of bulk materials, coatings and lubricants accurately.

Four Ball Tester

Technical Specifications:
1. Rotational Speed: 3,000rpm (Max).
2. Test Load: Up to 10,000N
3. Temperature: Ambient to 100°C
Funded by: DST
Application: Four ball tester is used to determine the wear and friction properties of oils and greases.

Dell Precision Workstation

Technical Specifications:
1. Xenon E3 Processor, 32 Gb RAM and ITB HDD
FEA Software:
DEFORM 3D (Funded by: ABG)
ABAQUS (Funded by: DST)
Application: Dell Precision Workstation is a powerful system to analyze highly complex data sets and for performing highly complex engineering work.

Tool Makers Microscope with Measuring Software

Technical specifications:
UIS2 Optical System
Coarse Focusing Speed: 4.8 mm/sec
Metallurgical Objective Lens
Measuring Accuracy:
1. 50 mm Stroke :(3+L/50) µm
2. 100 mm Stroke :(3+2L/100) µm
3. 150 mm Stroke :(3+3L/150) µm
Funded by: CSIR
Application: For inspection as well as precise measurement of diameter, length, thread pitches and angles, tool wear etc.

Scratch Tester and Humidity controller

Technical specification:
1. Low Load Head: Up to 2 N
2. High Load Head: Up to 20 N
3. X Axis Travel: 50 mm
4. Y Axis Travel: 5 mm
5. Scratch Speed: 10 mm/sec
6. Humidity Control Range: 5% to 80% RH
7. Air Inlet Flow Rate: 3 lit/min (Max.)
8. Operating Temperature: 10° to 45°C
9. Accuracy: ±1% measured value, % RH
10. In/Out Port Size: Suits 8 mm OD tubing
11. Least Count: 2% RH
Application: It is used to measure coating strength by analyzing coefficient of friction and traction force under controlled humidity rate.

Journal Bearing

Technical specification:
1. Shaft diameter: 39.955 mm
2. I/d ratio: 1
3. C/r ratio: 0.005
4. Radial load: 750 N max in steps of 150 N
5. Speed range: 150 – 2000 rpm
6. Test bearing: 40.150 mm
Application: It can measure the load bearing capacity of oil film under pressure.

Thermal Infrared Imaging Camera

Technical specification:
1. Thermal Sensitivity (NETD): <0.05°C at 30°C
2. Temperature Range: -20°C to +650°C
3. Thermal Imaging Quality: 320x240 pixels
4. Accuracy: ±2°C or ±2% of reading
5. Funded by: DST
Application: A thermal imaging camera is a reliable non-contact instrument which accurately scans and visualizes the temperature distribution over the entire surfaces of machinery and electrical equipment.

UniBloc Analytical Balance

Technical specifications:
1. Capacity: 220g / 82g
2. Minimum display: 0.1mg / 0.01mg
3. Pan Size: 80mm dia. (approx.)
4. Operating ambient temperature: 5-40°C
Application: The UniBloc balance system provides accurate measurement in precision weighing to adjust for the effects of even small changes in ambient temperature.

Oscilloscope

Technical specification:
1. Bandwidth: 500MHz
2. Sample Rate: 2.5G S/s
3. Record length: 5m
4. Color display with 4-Ch
Application: An Oscilloscope measures the amplitude and frequency of machining vibrations.

Syringe Pump

Technical specification:
1. Capacity: 220g / 82g
2. Minimum display: 0.1mg / 0.01mg
3. Pan Size: 80mm dia. (approx.)
4. Operating ambient temperature: 5-40°C
Application: Syringe Pump provides the most precise delivery of fluids. It can be controlled by both time based as well as flow-based methods.