Development of a tribological research facility

摘要获奖仪器允许对重要摩擦学问题的研究和教育采取现代化的综合方法。摩擦学涉及相互作用的表面，因此包括表面粗糙度、摩擦、磨损和润滑等领域。摩擦学对于提高现代机械的效率非常重要，因为据估计，美国的摩擦学损失接近国民生产总值的6%。作为回应，近几十年来，摩擦学受到了迫切需要的关注。下一步需要将摩擦学问题的研究和教育结合起来，以大大提高人们对摩擦学在提高现代机械能源效率方面的作用的认识。洛约拉·马里蒙特大学的摩擦学研究设施的开发就是下一步。开发相对全面的摩擦学研究设施的三个主要设备组件是：1)ADE PhaseShift MicroXAM白光干涉仪，2)CETR微摩擦仪(UMT)高温模块和3)COY大气控制手套箱。这些组件中的每一个在不同的方面都是关键的，它们将结合在一起形成摩擦学研究设施。干涉仪允许对表面特征进行复杂的分析，对于研究设施的研究和教育方面都是至关重要的。该组件对于研究磨损表面和说明表面设计对于提高效率的重要性是必要的。该干涉仪能够高精度地量化试件的磨粒磨损量，对于进一步发展普遍的磨粒磨损规律至关重要。此外，这种设备允许本科生对表面结构的重要性进行直接调查。CETR摩擦轰炸机高温模块允许使用现有的CETR摩擦轰炸机进行高温摩擦学研究，这对于模拟高温下实际应用的摩擦学非常重要。这一组成部分允许研究通过使用生物基润滑剂(如大豆油、花生油等)以及再循环石油基润滑剂来减少石油使用量的可能性。这类研究对于减少对进口石油的依赖是必要的。最后，手套箱允许精确控制摩擦学测试条件的大气。手套箱将允许进行研究和教育比较研究，直接将摩擦和磨损与特定的大气条件(包括湿度和缺乏某些气体)联系起来。雷达影响获奖设备提供了一个非常重要的问题的科学教育和研究的直接集成。该仪器将直接影响每年约30名学生的科学教育，其中约27%是代表不足的少数民族学生，其中45%是女性，17%是亚洲学生。通过对摩擦学重要性的认识，未来的工程师和科学家将拥有必要的背景知识，以充分处理涉及通过适当的摩擦学设计提高能源效率的问题。智力价值该设备将通过提供高级理论工程设计课程中所涵盖的摩擦学主题的实践经验，教育工程学学生表面工程的重要性。此外，摩擦学研究设施将为教师以及研究生和本科生提供更广泛的研究机会。摩擦学研究设施将显著提高学院高水平研究的智力能力。

Abstract The awarded instrumentation allows for a modernized integrated approach to research and education of important tribological issues. The science of tribology involves interacting surfaces and therefore includes areas such as surface roughness, friction, wear and lubrication. Tribology is highly important for increasing the efficiency of modern machinery, as the estimated tribological losses in the United States are near 6% of its gross national product. In response, tribology has received much needed attention in recent decades. Integrating research and education of tribological issues is the next step needed to greatly increase awareness of the role of tribology for improving the energy efficiency of modern machinery. The development of a tribological research facility at Loyola Marymount University takes this next step. The three main equipment components that allow for the development of a relatively comprehensive tribological research facility are: 1) ADE PhaseShift MicroXAM white-light interferometer, 2) CETR Micro-Tribometer (UMT) high-temperature module and 3) COY atmospherically controlled glove box. Each of these components is critical in different aspects and will combine to form the tribological research facility. The interferometer allows for complex analyses of surface features and is crucial for both the research and educational aspects of the research facility. This component is necessary for investigating worn surfaces and illustrating the importance of surface design for improving efficiency. The interferometer is crucial for the further development of a generalized abrasive wear law through its capacity to quantify the abrasive wear volume of a test specimen with high precision. In addition, this equipment allows for the direct investigation of the importance of surface structures by undergraduate engineering students. The CETR tribometer high-temperature module allows for high temperature tribological research using an existing CETR tribometer, which is important for simulating the tribology of practical applications under high temperatures. This component allows for investigating the possibility of decreasing petroleum usage by using bio-based lubricants such as soybean oil, peanut oil, etc., as well as re-recycled petroleum based lubricants. Such studies are necessary to facilitate a decreased dependence on imported petroleum. Finally, the glove box allows precise atmospheric control of tribological testing conditions. The glove box will allow for both research and educational comparative studies directly relating friction and wear to specific atmospheric conditions, including humidity and the absence of certain gases.Broader impactsThe awarded equipment provides direct integration of scientific education and research of a highly important issue. The instrumentation will directly impact the scientific education of approximately 30 students per year, approximately 27% of which are underrepresented minority students, 45% of which are women and 17% of which are Asian students. Through an awareness of the importance of tribology, future engineers and scientists will have the necessary background to adequately deal with issues involving increasing energy efficiency through proper tribological design. Intellectual meritThe equipment will educate engineering students about the importance of surface engineering by providing hands-on experience of tribological topics covered in upper-level theoretical engineering design coursework. In addition, the tribological research facility will provide more extensive research opportunities for the faculty, as well as both graduate and undergraduate students. The tribological research facility will significantly raise the intellectual capacity of the school for high-level research.