This introductory yet comprehensive book provides information on tribology and its related systems. Tribology is study of interacting surfaces in relative motion. It encompasses the field of friction, lubrication, wear, and related surface phenomena. An understanding of tribological principles and their appropriate application is an essential requirement for optimum design, operation and maintenance of tribo-systems. Knowledge of tribology helps improve service life, safety and reliability of interacting machine components and it yields substantial economic benefits.

This book targets senior undergraduate and postgraduate students of mechanical engineering, production engineering and metallurgical engineering. It can also serve as a reference for researchers and designers. For this purpose the book includes the study of solid mechanics which is required to estimate the contact stresses developed at asperity interactions; study of fluid mechanics which is required to establish the lubricant behavior and film formation between various geometric shapes of sliding surfaces; study of material science which focuses on atomic and micro-scale mechanisms that cause solid surface degradation or alteration occurring during relative motion; and study of chemistry that describes the reactivity between lubricants, additives and solid surfaces. It provides sufficiently strong scientific background to tribological concepts, with their applications to real problems. It is the result of the author's background in tribology research and consultancy, experience in teaching tribology courses to practicing engineering professionals, graduate and senior undergraduate students and conducting industrial courses over a period of about 16 years. A prominent feature of the book is the description of the basic scientific principles detailing the inter-disciplinary approach and the corresponding computer based solutions. Presenting all requisite concepts with clarity and conciseness, this book aims to fill the wide gap between the scientific basis of the solution strategies in dealing with tribological problems and prevalent experience based industrial practices.

Real life case studies have been meticulously selected and incorporated at the end of each chapter to make the reader aware of the scientific approach in solving tribological problems in contrast to the prevalent trial and error methods based on industrial experience that lacks scientificity. A selected list of references at the end of each chapter may be used by the reader for further in-depth study. Frequently asked questions and multiple choice questions have been included at the end of the chapters so that the book may be readily adopted for university and industrial courses.