Offered Every Fall


Credit Hours: 3-0-3
Prerequisites: ME 6201, Principles of Continuum Mechanics
Catalog Description: Mechanics of surface contact, with emphasis on tribological interactions as in rolling element bearings, slider bearings, mechanical seals, and materials processing.
Textbooks: K. L. Johnson, Contact Mechanics, Cambridge University Press, 1987.
I. M. Hutchings, Tribology: Friction and Wear of Engineering Materials, 1st Edition, CRC Press, 1994.
Instructors: Jeffrey Streator, David McDowell, Richard Neu
References: S. P. Timoshenko and J. N. Goodier, Theory of Elasticity, 3rd edition, McGraw-Hill.
R. Bayer, Mechanical Wear Prediction and Prevention, Marcel Dekker.
E. Rabinowicz, Friction and Wear of Materials, 2nd edition, J. Wiley, Inc.
Goals: The course seeks to introduce students to the mechanics of surface contact, with emphasis on tribological interactions, such as those present in rolling element bearings, dry and boundary-lubricated slider bearings, mechanical seals, and materials processing.
Prerequisites by topics:
  • Continuum mechanics
  • Mechanical behavior of materials.
Topics:
  • Equations of elasticity
  • Hertzian contact
  • Non-Hertzian elastic contact
  • Contact of rough surfaces
  • Normal contact of inelastic solids
  • Wear mechanisms
  • Tangential loading and sliding contact
  • Rolling contact and rolling friction
  • Thermoelastic contact
Computer Usage:
  • Several homework problems requiring basic numerical analysis.
  • Two homework assignments requiring finite element analysis via available commercial software.
  • Two homework assignments requiring Fast Fourier Transform calculations.
Grading Scheme (%):

Homework

15

Group Projects

25 

Exams

35