Tribology - Friction and Wear of Engineering Materials
I. M. Hutchings
Those who teach 'tribology', either
formally or by example, have
always been faced with a serious
dilemma in their choice of
introductory texts for their pupils.
This is in part due to the
interdisciplinary nature of the
subject and the wide audience
which the subject serves. In
addition, the description and
interpretation of many tribological
phenomena may be offered at a
range of intellectual levels and
with different styles of emphasis.
A book which pretends to be an
introduction to, or primer for,
tribology will hence be especially a
reflection of an author's personal
interests and background, as well
as what he perceives as the needs
of his part of the tribological
community. It is hence easy to see
why those books which might be
described as an 'Introduction to
Tribology' have a rather parochial
content and emphasis. Even the
classical and, judging by the
citation indices, still more popular
current texts by Bowden and
Tabor I were oriented to specific
audiences. Similarly, with
Cameron's 2 introduction to
lubrication and Stolarski's3 recent
book on tribology in machine
design. Equally with Halling's4 new
book with Arnell, Davies and
Whomes. In the first instance, Ian
Hutchings' new book should be
judged in this context.
It is apparent, even from a cursory
examination, that the author was
aware of these difficulties and
chose, within certain limits, to
attempt to provide a broad and
even introductory coverage for
students. He has been remarkably
successful in this cause and has
produced a text of unique value
(and, to the publisher's credit, at a
reasonable price).
Edward Arnold, 1992, I S B N 0-340-56184-X,
352 pp, £19.95
TRIBOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
The basic structure of the book
seems to have evolved from a
number of influences. Hutchings
spent his formative years in P.C.S.
(Physics and Chemistry of Solids,
Cavendish) with David Tabor's
group in Cambridge. There is a lot
of the P.C.S. work and approach
in the book, although it is included
with the author's own evaluations
and style of presentation.
In recent years the author has
been very active in certain parts of
the tribology research community
and he has selected contributions,
mainly from reviews and research
texts, from other tribologists and
incorporated them within the text.
This is done in a very effective
way. He has, however, marginally
indulged in his own specialization
of particle erosion. The fact he
included so little is a testimony to
the self discipline he must have
imposed upon himself during the
preparation of this text. That self
discipline is also apparent when
one discovers reasonably full
accounts of subjects outside his
own research interests such as
surface engineering, materials for
bearings and fluid lubrication. The
author's recent teaching experience
must have persuaded him of this
need. As I intimated earlier, this is
very much a reflection of the
author's experience in the practice
and teaching of tribology. Those
who know the author, may now
know him better, but in any event
this is the book they would have
expected of him.
But what of the value of the book
as a teaching text? This may be
judged only in relation to the
alternatives. For undergraduates of
a general materials orientation
there is probably nothing better;
the book was designed for this
purpose. Mechanical engineers may
prefer Stolarski's book, and
lubrication engineers that by
Cameron. Technologists may see
more value in Halling's new text
whilst composites people may
choose the Friedrich text 5. Chemists
may prefer Lansdowns' book 6 or
that by Heinicke7. Mathematical
facets of contact mechanics are, of
course, extensively covered by
Johnson8. Also, for many, Dowson's
book on the history of tribology
provides a fascinating introduction9.
Ian Hutchings refers to most of
these texts, and many others, in his
suggested supplementary reading
and they clearly influenced the
present author.
Having said these things, for my
own part, if I had to choose one
book, other than the Bible of
course, for use as an undergraduate
primer for tribology, I would choose
Ian Hutchings' new book. It
provides a balanced introduction
which offers something for most
teachers, who will naturally wish, in
most cases, to amplify those parts
which they see as important for
their own requirements. The author
has provided an excellent
foundation for this purpose.
References
1. Bowden, F.P. and Tabor, D. The Friction
and Lubricationof Solids, Clarendon Press,
Oxford, 1986
2. Cameron, A. Basic Lubrication Theory,
Ellis Horwood, 1981
3. Stolarski, T.A. Tribology in Machine
Design, Heinemann Newnes, 1990
4. Arnell, R.D., Davies, P.B., Hailing, J. and
Whomes, T.L. Tribology: Principles and
Design Applications, Macmillan, 1991
5. Friedrieh,K. Frictionand Wearof Polymer
Composites, Elsevier, 1986
6. Lansdown,A.R. Lubrication: A Practical
Guide to Lubricant Selection, Pergamon
Press, 1982
7. Heinicke, G. Tribochemistry, Akademie-
Verlag, Berlin, 1984
8. Johnson, K.L. Contact Mechanics, Cam-
bridge University Press, 1985
9. Dawson, D. History of Tribology, Long-
man, 1979
Brian Briscoe
I m p e r i a l College, L o n d o n , U K
357