The main goal of this virtual lab is to help students understand how different materials respond to friction and wear under varying operating conditions, and how these responses influence engineering performance. It introduces learners to fundamental wear mechanisms such as abrasion and adhesion in systems including metal–metal and ceramic–metal contacts, along with methods to quantify wear using weight and volume loss measurements. The lab also explores the effects of load, sliding speed, and lubrication on wear behavior.
In addition, the lab emphasizes the connection between mechanical properties and tribological performance through micro-scale investigations. This includes evaluating parameters material parameters using nanoindentation, understanding friction hysteresis and Hertzian contact, and relating fracture toughness to wear resistance through crack analysis. Surface damage and material response are further studied using micro-scratch techniques to estimate scratch toughness.
Students are encouraged to independently perform simulations, analyze results, and establish correlations between experimental conditions and material behavior, enabling a deeper and more practical understanding of wear and tribology.