Surface Texturing for Automotive Applications

为了使汽车运输更具可持续性，控制发动机部件的摩擦行为已成为减少二氧化碳排放和提高燃油效率的关键研究领域。发动机部件之间的摩擦可占燃料提供能量的12%。预计到2030年，全球汽车使用量将超过300亿辆，因此发动机摩擦的小幅减少将对降低全球排放水平产生重大影响。该项目将研究使用电喷加工对轻型铝制发动机缸体表面进行加工，以提高其摩擦性能。您将研究一系列纹理参数，以优化汽车气缸套应用的摩擦系数。使用非接触式光学轮廓术、扫描电子显微镜和聚焦离子束显微镜对表面进行广泛的表征，将有助于了解不同的润滑机制如何影响铝缸套材料的摩擦和磨损行为。

In the drive to make automotive transportation more sustainable, controlling the friction behaviour of engine components has become a key area of research focus for reducing CO2 emissions and improving fuel efficiency. Friction between engine components can account for up to 12% of the supplied energy from the fuel. With projected global vehicle usage set to excess 30 billion vehicles by 2030, small decreases in friction in the engine can have a significant impact on reducing global emission levels. This project will investigate the use of electro-jet machining to pattern light-weight aluminium engine block surfaces in order to enhance their friction behaviour. You will investigate a range of texturing parameters to optimise the friction coefficient for an automotive cylinder liner application. Extensive characterisation of the surface using non-contact optical profilometry, scanning electron microscopy and focused ion beam microscopy will allow an understanding of how different lubrication mechanisms influence the friction and wear behaviour of aluminium cylinder liner materials.