Department of Automobile Engineering

Leonardo Research Centre f

or Tribology

Dr.P.Shanmughasundaram Ph.D., FIE

Professor
Department of Automobile Engineering

Leonardo Research Centre for Tribology 1

Tribology Research Centre

Research Centre for Tribology was named after

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) who was the famous
Italian engineer, architect, painter, mathematician can
also be considered as the first tribologist.

Tribology is the study of friction, wear and lubrication

between the surfaces moving relative to each other.
Leonardo Research Centre for Tribology was
established in 2014 to suggest the materials for
mechanical and automotive applications .

Leonardo Research Centre for Tribology 2

 Tribology Research Centre

Tribology is the study of friction, wear and lubrication between the surfaces moving relative to
each other.

Research is focused on

- sliding wear and erosion wear of materials .

- surface coatings and treatments

- Enhancement in tribological performance of Bearings , cams , gears , and cutting

tools

Leonardo Research Centre for Tribology 3

Tribology Research Centre

Leonardo research centre is equipped with Pin-on-disc friction/wear test rig. It is

primarily intended for analyzing the tribological characteristics (Coefficient of
friction, frictional force, wear, interface temperature) of wide range of materials
(Metals, alloys, cold and heat-treated materials, hard coated materials, composite
materials) under the various conditions of the load, velocity, duration and temperature
with and without lubricants.

Computerized Pin –On- Disc Wear Test rig

Leonardo Research Centre for Tribology 4

Tribology Research Centre

Leonardo research centre is equipped with Stir casting furnace which is employed to fabricate
the metal matrix composites.

Schematic of stir casting furnace

Leonardo Research Centre for Tribology 5

Consultancy and Testing Services

This centre is utilized to support the industry in finding solutions related to wear, friction,
lubrication and maintenance.

It is used to educate the research scholars, engineers and students in tribological aspects. It is also
employed to carry out the projects of UG / PG students and Research scholars.

Amount Generated
Year Details of Consultancy Consultancy Done for
(Rs)

Tribological behaviour of
Industries Rs.83,000
materials
2015-2019 Fabrication of composite Research scholars, UG
materials and Tribological and PG students of other Rs.1,75,000
behaviour of materials Institutions

Total Rs.2,58,000

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Publications through Research Centre

Apart from the industry-oriented projects, faculty members do publish their

research findings in the international journals.

Triobology based research articles have been published by the faculty

members and research scholars in the international refereed Scopus, Web of
Science and SCI Journals such as Journal of Materials Research and Technology,
Acta Metallurgica Slovaca, Materials Physics and Mechanics, UPB Scientific
Bulletin, Mechanics and Mechanical Engineering, Materials Research, Materiali
in Tehnologije etc.

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 Publications through Research Centre

Journal Publications :

1. P.Shanmughasundaram, Influence of abrasive water jet machining parameters on the surface roughness of
eutectic Al-Si alloy - graphite composites, Materials Physics and Mechanics, 19(1),pp.1-8 ,2014. (Scopus &
Web of Science).

2. P.Shanmughasundaram, R. Subramanian ,Study of parametric optimization of burr formation in step drilling of

eutectic Al–Si alloy–Gr composites ,Materials Research and Technology,2014. (Elsevier, Scopus & SCI).

3. P.Shanmughasundaram, “Statistical Analysis On Influence Of Heat Treatment, Load And Velocity On The Dry
Sliding Wear Behavior of Aluminium Alloy 7075, Materials Physics and Mechanics,22 ,pp.118-124,2015.
(Scopus & Web of Science). 

4. P.Shanmughasundaram,”Effect of Iron Oxide on Tribological Behaviour of Al- Si Alloy – Iron Oxide Composites
Taguchi Approach “,U.P.B. Sci. Bull., Series D, 77,pp.1121-134 ,2015(Scopus).

Leonardo Research Centre for Tribology 8

 Publications through Research Centre

Journal Publications :

5. P.Shanmughasundaram ,Effect of SiC and Gr reinforcements on corrosion resistance of aluminium matrix

composites, Oxidation communications,39 (1), pp.232-239, 2016( Scopus & Web of Science). 
6. P.Shanmughasundaram ,Statistical Analysis on Tribological Behaviour of An Al Alloy 7075 – Al2O3 Composites
Acta Metallurgica Slovaca, 22(1), pp. 24-34, 2016(Scopus & SCI). 
7. P.Shanmughasundaram ,Effect of Temperature, Load and Sliding Velocity on the Wear Behavior of AA7075- SiC
Composites, Mechanics and Mechanical Engineering , 2017(Scopus).
8. D.Prasanna Venkatesh ,P. Shanmugasundaram. The effect of cryogenic treatment on the wear resistance of al alloy-
fly ash composites, International Journal of Engineering and Advanced Technology,2019(Scopus).

9. P. Shanmughasundaram  M. Prabhu, Material Characterization and Parametric Optimization of Unconventional

Machining of TiN and TaC reinforced Stir Casted Vitallium Metal Matrix Composite, Materials Research,2020
(SCI and WoS).
10. P.Shanmughasundaram, D.Prasanna Venkatesh, N.Ashok and Negussie Tadege Demeke, Influence of
temperature on tribological behaviour of dual reinforced aluminium MMCs, Journal of Mine, Metals & Fuels
2020 (Scopus).
Leonardo Research Centre for Tribology 9
 Future Plans

 To sign MoU with renowned Tribology Research Centres in India and Abroad

 To carry out R&D Projects.

 To publish the articles in reputed SCI Journals using Research Laboratory

 To have a separate library for Tribology

 To organize a workshop/ Seminar/ Conference on Tribology

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Membership
Tribology Society of India(TSI)

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