Research in the Tribology of Manufacturing Process
This research involves both nanotribology e.g. for computer hard disk drives and solar cells, and also tribological modelling and experimentation of manufacturing/metal working process e.g. roll bite tribology during the cold rolling of steel to improve surface finish and boost production rates, strip drawing, wire drawing etc. Tribology in these cases represents the challenges of dynamic friction, and micro-plastic hydrodynamic lubrication. Major activities of this work involve three dimensional modelling and characterisation of surfaces using contacting and non-contacting profilometers, understanding the mechanisms of roll/die wear, transfer films and their influence on the surface quality. The results of experimentation are analysed using mathematical models. Some of the results of this research can be appreciated from the list of publications and presentations given below.
Evolution of surface roughness
during cold rolling Conference
“Modelling of Metal Rolling Processes”
Micro-Plasto-Hydrodynamic
Lubrication (MPHL)
