Paper 1: The Conference: Its Plan and Purpose

Abstract

The rate of development of the subject has been so rapid that it has become difficult for any individual to be conversant with all its implications. Nevertheless, if the benefits of current research are to be realized in practice, some means must be found for presenting the essential data in an assimilable form. The history of the subject is briefly commented on and doubt is expressed regarding the adequacy of the rate of application of new knowledge to industrial problems. Full appreciation of even the simplest bearing situation requires knowledge of hydrodynamics, thermodynamics, material science and metrology and the multi-disciplinary aspects of tribology are emphasized. The introduction of tribology into engineering courses should not therefore impose too great a burden on the student because it depends on fundamentals already understood. The main emphasis of the paper, as indeed of the Conference, is on the application of research results to design. An attempt is made to classify the duty to be performed by a bearing and then to show that the form taken by the solution flows logically therefrom. Protection from hostile environments is emphasized as being probably the most important requirement for satisfactory performance. The paper concludes with the prediction that the general advance in technology will continue to make demands for an advance in knowledge in the field of tribology.