Coupled Challenges at the Moving Interface

Tribology is the science of friction and wear, of the forces counteracting motion in contact, and of structural changes at the moving interface. Research and engineering efforts in tribology address the physical, chemical, and biological mechanisms underlying friction and wear, and aim to design materials, processes, and devices such that new solutions to technological challenges become available.

The Gordon Research Conference on Tribology is a forum to exchange results of cutting-edge research amongst an interdisciplinary group of scientists and engineers. Many of the critical phenomena encountered at sliding interfaces cut across different traditional scientific disciplines, but are inevitably coupled. To name a few examples, mechanical mixing of the surfaces is coupled to ongoing chemical reactions and phase transformations; biological processes in cells couple their compliance to mechanical stimuli; molecular layer formation in lubricants is coupled to surface potentials; and thermal conductivity couples surface heating to viscoelastic properties and the physics of phonons. The 2014 GRC on Tribology invites scientists and engineers from all disciplines to address the challenge of coupled phenomena in sliding contacts and to take advantage of the interdisciplinary attendance to look at and learn about these problems from new perspectives.

In the tradition of this conference, we expect a lively and fruitful exchange of results and ideas in an informal atmosphere, starting from invited talks given by leading scientists and continuing in extended discussions around excellent contributed posters. From the atomistic simulation of polymer entanglement to the engineering of ceramic seals, from modeling of lubricant flow to the characterization of hard coatings, all contributions are welcome. The preliminary program of oral contributions can be found below.

The 2014 GRC on Tribology will be preceded for the first time by a Gordon Research Seminar, giving young tribologists the opportunity to present their work to their peers in an unintimidating atmosphere, prepare themselves in tutorial lectures for the GRC, and build networks with colleagues. During a mentorship session, Nuria Espallargas from NTNU in Norway (tribocorrosion, coatings technology) and Andrew Jackson from University of Pennsylvania, USA (lubrication technology, automotive) will talk about possible career paths, and important open questions in tribology. We are hoping for lively discussions. Participants of the GRS are encouraged to send questions and suggestions for this session to the GRS Chair in advance to the meeting.