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WHY
The steering system of cars is based on a rack and pinion system. Over time, the metal on these gears wears out, resulting in a loose fitting. Some other applications also make use of a rack and pinion system to translate a rotary drive motion into a linear displacement. The wear and tear of such systems occurs through a roll-slip mechanism. Therefore a tribological method needs to be developed to simulate such roll-slip contacts and their failure mechanisms.
WHY
The reliability of industrial equipment, transportation systems, nuclear and conventional power plants etc. can be significantly influenced by surface phenomena such as corrosion and wear. With the increasing pressure on development time and the need for higher performance, there is also an increasing need to measure and quantify the degradation phenomena faster and better. In this perspective, nuclear activation technology - as already used in engine testing- can provide accurate in-situ measurement and precise monitoring of wear, mass transfer, corrosion and erosion.
WHY
Polymer based composites are considered as one of the most important engineering materials for naval applications. They can be used in the superstructures, decks, bulkheads, advanced mast systems, propellers, propulsion shafts, rudders, pipes, pumps, valves, machinery and other equipment on large ships. In the majority of these applications these composites are subjected to mechanical loading in a corrosive environment. Thus their performance and/or lifetime is strongly dependent on both of these factors. In this application a methodology was developed to evaluate the effect of the corrosive environment (seawater) on the tribological performance of composite polymers is sliding contacts.