The emerging modern approach to tribology of load bearing surfaces is to treat the conjunction as a lubricant-surface system. This is contrary to the traditional non-integrated approaches where lubricant rheology is determined according to its load carrying capacity, shear characteristics and an additive package to service a host of requirements in general terms. The same has also been true of surface preparation in terms of wear characteristics, fatigue strength and envisaged topography, for example in preparation of coatings, method of deposition, micro-structural attributes, coating layer thickness, mechanical properties and topographical measures.

Detailed studies clearly demonstrate that the interactions between the lubricant molecular species and surface topographical and physio-mechanical properties play key roles in the formation of ultra-thin adsorbed films which affect the tribo-chemical and adhesive characteristics of the lubricant-surface system at the scale of minutiae. These characteristics are translated to micro-scale observation of friction, through a plethora of not fundamentally understood phenomena, which are also affected by operating conjunctional conditions such as contact kinematics, loading and thermodynamics.

The research involves evaluation of lubricant-system performance for fundamental understanding of mechanisms of friction generation in nano and micro-scale conjunctions. The multi-scale approach involves use of atomic force microscopy (AFM) and mass spectrometry through to precision sliding tribometers and ultimately lubricant-surface performance testing in internal combustion engine cylinder system.

This research is carried out under the auspices of Centre for Doctoral Training in Embedded Intelligence.  

Embedded Intelligence is characterised as the ability of a product, process or service to reflect on its own operational performance, usage load, or in relation to the end-user or environment in terms of satisfactory experience. This self-reflection is facilitated by information collected by sensors and processed locally or remotely to derive insight. These aspects must be considered from the design stage such as to enhance product lifetime and performance, increase quality of process or service delivery, or ensure customer satisfaction and market acceptance.

This Centre in collaboration with Castrol offers an attractive package, including a tax free stipend of up to £17k pa (equivalent £24k tax free), in addition to full University PhD registration fees for British and EU candidates. Overseas applicants are expected to finance the residual annual PhD fees which are in excess of the home student fees. Additionally, there is a generous personal development budget of £10,000 for the specific training needs of the successful candidate.

The Centre offers a unique 4-year Ph.D. programme, drawing on expertise in postgraduate teaching and research supervision in the fields of sensors, system design, embedded software and systems, manufacturing systems, novel manufacturing processing, applications engineering and systems services. The PhD candidate will receive intensive experience in both lubricant and surface technologies and will be supported by the state-of-the-art laboratories at Castrol and the university.

A high calibre candidate with first or upper second class (2:1) degree in mechanical engineering, automotive engineering, aerospace engineering or physics is sought. It is expected that the candidate would have good experimental skills and a strong interest in high performance automotive or aerospace IC engines. 

Further information can be obtained from Prof. Homer Rahnejat, e-mail: H.Rahnejat<στο>Lboro.ac.uk

Please select ‘CDT Embedded Intelligence MME’ from dropdown menu and quote ‘CDTEIMM1’ underProposed Research Topic /Research Proposal