Answer
Tribology is the science of interacting surfaces in relative motion and mainly deals with friction, wear and lubrication. In marine machinery it applies to bearings, piston rings and liners, gears, stern tubes and pumps. Important wear mechanisms are adhesive, abrasive, corrosive, fatigue, erosive and cavitation wear. Lubrication may operate in boundary, mixed, hydrodynamic, hydrostatic or elastohydrodynamic regimes. Correct tribological control through proper lubricant selection, filtration, alignment and condition monitoring improves machinery reliability and efficiency.
Tribology is the science and engineering of interacting surfaces in relative motion, encompassing the study of friction, wear, and lubrication.
Core areas:
- Friction: Resistance to sliding/rolling.
- Wear: Material loss (adhesive, abrasive, fatigue, corrosive).
- Lubrication: Fluids/films reducing friction and wear.