Sliding-speed effects on self-lubricating marine composites: a comparative assessment of tribological, mechanical, and thermal performance

Kumar, Rahul (avtor), Kalin, Mitjan (avtor), Emami, Nazanin (avtor)

Net-zero by 2050 demands scalable renewables. Ocean wave/tidal energy, though denser than solar and wind, remains at low TRL. A pivotal barrier is the material durability and performance of ocean (hydraulic) rod linear bearings that remain key components of WECs including point absorbers. This study presents a comparative mechanical, thermal, and tribological evaluation of eight commercial and newly developed self-lubricating bearing materials, including thermoplastics, thermosets, elastomers, and a bronze-based alloy, under unlubricated conditions. The materials incorporate diverse reinforcement architectures, including short fibers, woven and continuous fiber fabrics, and solid lubricant particulate fillers. Tribological testing was conducted under an 18 hrs long-duration dry reciprocating pin-on-flat configuration at 0.02–0.1 m/s under 250 N load. Friction behavior, wear rates, and surface degradation were recorded. Post-test analyses using SEM, FTIR, and 3D surface profilometry revealed distinct wear mechanisms and transfer film behavior. Wear maps integrating friction, wear rate, and a normalized multi-parameter performance index reveal sliding-speed-dependent tribological transitions and enable ranking of marine composites. The findings establish a foundational understanding for bearing failure mechanisms, predictive design and material selection in ocean tribological systems.

• Jezik: Angleški jezik
• Ključne besede: ocean tribology, wave energy converter, self-lubrication, polymer composites, hydrobearings, friction, marine lubrication
• Vrsta gradiva: Članek v reviji
• Tipologija: 1.01 - Izvirni znanstveni članek
• Organizacija: FS - Fakulteta za strojništvo
• Status publikacije: Objavljeno
• Različica publikacije: Objavljena publikacija
• Leto izida: 2026
• Št. strani: 19 str.
• Številčenje: Vol. 216, art. 111593
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-180441
• UDK: 539.92:621.89
• ISSN pri članku: 0301-679X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.triboint.2025.111593
• COBISS.SI-ID: 270987011
• Datum objave v RUL: 09.03.2026

Gradivo je del revije

• Naslov: Tribology international
• Skrajšan naslov: Tribol. int.
• Založnik: Butterworth Scientific
• ISSN: 0301-679X
• COBISS.SI-ID: 26558976

Licence

• Licenca: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Priznanje avtorstva 4.0 Mednarodna
• Povezava: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.sl
• Opis: To je standardna licenca Creative Commons, ki daje uporabnikom največ možnosti za nadaljnjo uporabo dela, pri čemer morajo navesti avtorja.

Sekundarni jezik

• Jezik: Slovenski jezik
• Ključne besede: oceanska tribologija, pretvorniki valovne energije, mazanje, polimerni kompoziti, ležaji, trenje