- @richbcs: "All of us are in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." -Oscar Wilde
- @karlphipps: "Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." -Martin Luther King, Jr.
- @karalemar: "Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." -W.B. Yeats
Friday, July 26, 2013
Thoughtful Thursday: What's your favorite quote?
Every Thursday this summer, we'll have a tweet that asks you to respond with your thoughts and comments. This week the question revolved around your favorite quote and who said it (and if you want to tell us why, that's great too!). We got a few responses, but feel free to keep adding in the comments below!
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
August Webinars: Reliability-Centered Lubrication, Microbiology, and Emulsifiers
This month we'll be featuring three events, all part of a series. We'll kick off our reliability-centered lubrication series (three part series), continue our MWF microbiology series (also three events), and see the last of two events in the emulsifier series. See below for more details on each and to preview upcoming topics.
Reliability-Centered Lubrication (Part I of III)
Date/Time: Wednesday, August 14, 2013; 12-1 pm CDT (with additional time for Q&A from 1-1:30)
Instructor: Mike Johnson, CLS
Overview: In this first event (of a three-event series on RCL) we will take a look at the strategy and overview the tactics involved in achieving RCL practices. We will also look at a critical aspect of this concept, which is making a business justification for the investment of time and energy to fundamentally change the way that lubrication activities are conducted.
Cost: $39 for members; $59 for non-members
[Click here] for more information
[Click here] to register now (please log in at www.stle.org, then click here)
Monitoring MWF Microbial Contamination
Date/Time: Wednesday, August 21, 2013; 12-1 pm CDT (with additional time for Q&A from 1-1:30)
Instructor: Dr. Frederick Passman, BCA, Inc.
Overview: Condition monitoring (CM) for microbial contamination shares common features with other routinely performed MWF CM. However, there are several concepts that are unique to microbiological sample collection, handling, testing and data interpretation. Optimal MWF management depends on understanding these unique concepts. During this webinar, Dr. Passman will provide a very brief overview of the microbiology basics as a refresher for those who have participated in the earlier webinar and a means of bringing newcomers up to speed. He’ll then discuss some of the most critical elements of microbiological sample collection. The underlying concept behind this information is that the microbiology of the bulk MWF is very different from that of surface and aerosol samples. Low numbers of microbes in bulk fluid samples can give a false sense of effective contamination control. Moreover, samples intended for microbiological testing are quite perishable and need to be handled accordingly. Dr. Passman will describe best practices for handling microbiological samples from time of sampling to the initiation of testing. The greatest portion of the webinar will focus on a discussion of the methods that are most useful for microbiological CM. There is no single microbiological test that provides all of the relevant information about MWF microbial contamination. Dr. Passman will describe the methods, the type and value of information each method can and can’t provide and best use of data for system management.
Cost: $39 for members; $59 for non-members
[Click here] for more information
[Click here] to register (please log in at www.stle.org, then click here)
Upcoming topics:
[Click here] to view online events in our calendar
Reliability-Centered Lubrication (Part I of III)
Date/Time: Wednesday, August 14, 2013; 12-1 pm CDT (with additional time for Q&A from 1-1:30)
Instructor: Mike Johnson, CLS
Overview: In this first event (of a three-event series on RCL) we will take a look at the strategy and overview the tactics involved in achieving RCL practices. We will also look at a critical aspect of this concept, which is making a business justification for the investment of time and energy to fundamentally change the way that lubrication activities are conducted.
Cost: $39 for members; $59 for non-members
[Click here] for more information
[Click here] to register now (please log in at www.stle.org, then click here)
Monitoring MWF Microbial Contamination
Date/Time: Wednesday, August 21, 2013; 12-1 pm CDT (with additional time for Q&A from 1-1:30)
Instructor: Dr. Frederick Passman, BCA, Inc.
Overview: Condition monitoring (CM) for microbial contamination shares common features with other routinely performed MWF CM. However, there are several concepts that are unique to microbiological sample collection, handling, testing and data interpretation. Optimal MWF management depends on understanding these unique concepts. During this webinar, Dr. Passman will provide a very brief overview of the microbiology basics as a refresher for those who have participated in the earlier webinar and a means of bringing newcomers up to speed. He’ll then discuss some of the most critical elements of microbiological sample collection. The underlying concept behind this information is that the microbiology of the bulk MWF is very different from that of surface and aerosol samples. Low numbers of microbes in bulk fluid samples can give a false sense of effective contamination control. Moreover, samples intended for microbiological testing are quite perishable and need to be handled accordingly. Dr. Passman will describe best practices for handling microbiological samples from time of sampling to the initiation of testing. The greatest portion of the webinar will focus on a discussion of the methods that are most useful for microbiological CM. There is no single microbiological test that provides all of the relevant information about MWF microbial contamination. Dr. Passman will describe the methods, the type and value of information each method can and can’t provide and best use of data for system management.
Cost: $39 for members; $59 for non-members
[Click here] for more information
[Click here] to register (please log in at www.stle.org, then click here)
Upcoming topics:
- 9/18: Contamination Control of MWFs, with instructor Fred Passman, BCA, Inc.
- 9/19: Emulsifiers 201, with instructors Jennifer Ineman and Tom Oleksiak, The Lubrizol Corporation
- 9/25: Reliability-Centered Lubrication (Part II of III), with instructor Mike Johnson
- 10/16: Reliability-Centered Lubrication (Part III of III), with instructor Mike Johnson
- 10/23: Automatic Transmission Fluids, with instructor Chintan Ved, Ford Motor Company
[Click here] to view online events in our calendar
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
5 Minutes with...Hamed Ghaednia
5 Minutes with...
Hamed Ghaednia, PhD Student, Mechanical Engineering at Auburn University
What got you interested in tribology, and where has that interest led you? Looking back, I can recognize a couple of events over the course of my studies that prepared me and got me interested in the field of tribology. While I was working on my undergrad I was offered to enter a double major program as part of an honors program. I was given the choice to select a second major and I chose to study chemical engineering because of my fascination with chemical processes. I did not know it at the time, but the mechanical/chemical engineering combination gave me a boost through my career in the field of tribology. My first exposure to tribology research was when I started working on my master’s degree. I was looking for research topics that included both of my majors so I started working on the semi-active control of a rotor mounted on magneto-rheological journal bearings. My research involved: numerical simulations of a rotors’ vibrations, MR fluid journal bearing modeling and design of a fuzzy control system. My Master’s thesis was partly related to tribology. However, I had the opportunity to engage in a variety of research topics related to tribology when I began my PhD research at Auburn University. That was when I began to really appreciate the complexity and interdisciplinary approach to tribology in solving unique and cutting edge problems, which got me interested in tribology. I have been active in the field of tribology ever since as a Research Assistant in the Multiscale Tribology Laboratory at the Auburn University and I have been involved in a range of topics such as nanotribology, lubrication and contact mechanics.
Can you give us some detail on your research? Currently, I am focused on the effect of nanoparticle additives on lubricants as my PhD project. Nano-sizes particles are small enough to infiltrate the small gaps between surfaces in contact and alter the tribological characteristics. However the particles’ exact enhancing mechanisms remain unknown (with a few exceptions). This project has different angles and challenges to be explored, such as stability of nanoparticle suspensions. Usually the base oils are non-polar so there is no strong intermolecular force available to suspend the particles. Nanoparticles change the bulk properties of the lubricants, such as viscosity and thermal conductivity, which need to be quantified. The main goal of the project is to understand the effect of particles on friction and wear and to study the interaction of particles with surfaces under high pressure. This project involves a variety of different experimental techniques ranging from purely chemical tests to friction and surface analysis tests. In addition, I am working on developing a contact model for nanoparticles between rough surfaces. Therefore it is a very good opportunity for me to get involved in various tribological topics and try to increase my knowledge of tribology. I am two and half years into this project and have tackled multiple fronts of the project. Results so far are very interesting and I have couple of papers in publication and in preparation on the subject.
During my Master’s program I was working on magnetorheological (MR) journal bearings. MR bearings consist of a conventional bearings filled with the MR fluid. MR fluid is a suspension of micron size ferromagnetic particles in a base oil. MR fluids’ viscosity and rheology changes under an applied external magnetic field that could be utilized to control the response of the bearing in a feedback control system. The first goal of the study was to develop a heat transfer model for the bearings and explore the effect of temperature rise on the performance of the rotor-bearing system. The second goal was to design and implement a semi-active fuzzy control system to minimize the vibrations of the system.
What recommendations would you give to other students and researchers in the field? Grad school is usually stressful, lengthy and typically revolves around your research. Therefore take plenty of time to explore your possibilities and choose the research topic that you like and enjoy learning about. This can significantly improve your grad school experience.
As known, tribology mainly explores the contacts between different materials. These can be in different phases and are governed by different physical or chemical principles. Tribology links different physical and chemical concepts together in search of an answer. Tribology does not stop at the edge of the materials; it bridges the gaps. Hence, if you are want to be involved in this field, my advice is to be willing to bridge the gaps and learn every day.
Any final thoughts you’d like to give readers? Don’t forget that many breakthroughs in the history of mankind came from early tribologists. Examples of these are cavemen making fire out of friction and the invention of the first rolling element bearing, the wheel. Thus, it is probable that a tribologist will invent the next revolutionary device or discover the key to the next chapter of engineering!
For more info, click here to read The 10 Greatest Events in Tribology History (article and poster)
Hamed’s Favorites
Tribology book/reference: Even though I use several tribology-related books on a regular basis, I can name three books as my favorites:
Favorite professor(s)/mentor(s): Dr. Jackson and Dr. Ohadi, my PhD and Master’s advisors, are my favorite professors and mentors.
Favorite online resource related to your research: http://www.tribology-abc.com/
Favorite quote: “Believe those who are seeking the truth. Doubt those who find it.” – Andre Gide, French critic, essayist, & novelist (1869 - 1951)
Biography
Hamed Ghaednia received his BS degrees in Mechanical Engineering and in Chemical Engineering from the Tehran Polytechnic (also known as Amirkabir University of Technology), Iran, in 2007 and 2010, respectively. During his undergraduate he was a member of the Parsian Robotic Group and participated in several international robotic competitions and won awards. He received his MS degree in Mechanical Engineering from Tehran Polytechnic in 2010 while working as a Graduate Assistant for the Vibration and Noise Control Laboratory. He is currently pursuing his PhD in Mechanical Engineering, in the field of Tribology, at Auburn University. He is currently a Research Assistant at the Multiscale Tribology Laboratory. He has published papers in the fields of: nano particle lubricants, magneto-rheological fluid (MR fluid) bearings and contact mechanics. His current research involvements are nanoparticle lubricants, nanotribology and contact mechanics.
Mr. Ghaednia is a member of the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (STLE) and American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).
Hamed Ghaednia, PhD Student, Mechanical Engineering at Auburn University
 |
| Hamed with his poster at the 2013 STLE Annual Meeting |
Can you give us some detail on your research? Currently, I am focused on the effect of nanoparticle additives on lubricants as my PhD project. Nano-sizes particles are small enough to infiltrate the small gaps between surfaces in contact and alter the tribological characteristics. However the particles’ exact enhancing mechanisms remain unknown (with a few exceptions). This project has different angles and challenges to be explored, such as stability of nanoparticle suspensions. Usually the base oils are non-polar so there is no strong intermolecular force available to suspend the particles. Nanoparticles change the bulk properties of the lubricants, such as viscosity and thermal conductivity, which need to be quantified. The main goal of the project is to understand the effect of particles on friction and wear and to study the interaction of particles with surfaces under high pressure. This project involves a variety of different experimental techniques ranging from purely chemical tests to friction and surface analysis tests. In addition, I am working on developing a contact model for nanoparticles between rough surfaces. Therefore it is a very good opportunity for me to get involved in various tribological topics and try to increase my knowledge of tribology. I am two and half years into this project and have tackled multiple fronts of the project. Results so far are very interesting and I have couple of papers in publication and in preparation on the subject.
During my Master’s program I was working on magnetorheological (MR) journal bearings. MR bearings consist of a conventional bearings filled with the MR fluid. MR fluid is a suspension of micron size ferromagnetic particles in a base oil. MR fluids’ viscosity and rheology changes under an applied external magnetic field that could be utilized to control the response of the bearing in a feedback control system. The first goal of the study was to develop a heat transfer model for the bearings and explore the effect of temperature rise on the performance of the rotor-bearing system. The second goal was to design and implement a semi-active fuzzy control system to minimize the vibrations of the system.
What recommendations would you give to other students and researchers in the field? Grad school is usually stressful, lengthy and typically revolves around your research. Therefore take plenty of time to explore your possibilities and choose the research topic that you like and enjoy learning about. This can significantly improve your grad school experience.
As known, tribology mainly explores the contacts between different materials. These can be in different phases and are governed by different physical or chemical principles. Tribology links different physical and chemical concepts together in search of an answer. Tribology does not stop at the edge of the materials; it bridges the gaps. Hence, if you are want to be involved in this field, my advice is to be willing to bridge the gaps and learn every day.
Any final thoughts you’d like to give readers? Don’t forget that many breakthroughs in the history of mankind came from early tribologists. Examples of these are cavemen making fire out of friction and the invention of the first rolling element bearing, the wheel. Thus, it is probable that a tribologist will invent the next revolutionary device or discover the key to the next chapter of engineering!
For more info, click here to read The 10 Greatest Events in Tribology History (article and poster)
Hamed’s Favorites
Tribology book/reference: Even though I use several tribology-related books on a regular basis, I can name three books as my favorites:
- Contact Mechanics by K.L. Johnson
- Intermolecular & Surface Forces by J. Israelachvili
- Fundamentals of Fluid Film Lubrication by Hamrock, Schmid and Jacobson | Read the review
Favorite professor(s)/mentor(s): Dr. Jackson and Dr. Ohadi, my PhD and Master’s advisors, are my favorite professors and mentors.
Favorite online resource related to your research: http://www.tribology-abc.com/
Favorite quote: “Believe those who are seeking the truth. Doubt those who find it.” – Andre Gide, French critic, essayist, & novelist (1869 - 1951)
Biography
Hamed Ghaednia received his BS degrees in Mechanical Engineering and in Chemical Engineering from the Tehran Polytechnic (also known as Amirkabir University of Technology), Iran, in 2007 and 2010, respectively. During his undergraduate he was a member of the Parsian Robotic Group and participated in several international robotic competitions and won awards. He received his MS degree in Mechanical Engineering from Tehran Polytechnic in 2010 while working as a Graduate Assistant for the Vibration and Noise Control Laboratory. He is currently pursuing his PhD in Mechanical Engineering, in the field of Tribology, at Auburn University. He is currently a Research Assistant at the Multiscale Tribology Laboratory. He has published papers in the fields of: nano particle lubricants, magneto-rheological fluid (MR fluid) bearings and contact mechanics. His current research involvements are nanoparticle lubricants, nanotribology and contact mechanics.
Mr. Ghaednia is a member of the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (STLE) and American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).
Monday, July 1, 2013
July Webinars: Air, Gas Compressors & MWF Microbiology
This month we'll be featuring three events - two covering compressors, and one on metalworking fluids. See below for more details on each and to preview upcoming topics.
Air Compressors & Their Lubrication
Date/Time: Wednesday, July 10, 2013; 12-1 pm CDT (with additional time for Q&A from 1-1:30)
Instructor: Glenn Short, BVA
Overview: This webinar will provide you with basic compressor fundamentals, the different types of lubricants that can be used, some of the important properties compressor lubricants should possess and their proper selection. The focus will be primarily on positive displacement compressors, formulating with synthetic lubricants, and strategies for efficiency improvement and extending lubricant service life.
Cost: $39 for members; $59 for non-members
[Click here] for more information
[Click here] to register now (please log in at www.stle.org, then click here)
Gas & Process Compressor Lubricants
Date/Time: Thursday, July 11, 2013; 12-1 pm CDT (with additional time for Q&A from 1-1:30)
Instructor: Glenn Short, BVA
Overview: In this webinar, you will learn about the different types of lubricants that are used in gas and process compressors, some of the important properties compressor lubricants should possess and their proper selection. The focus will be primarily on positive displacement compressors and other compressors where the lubricant may come into contact with the gas being compressed, formulating with special types of mineral oils and synthetic lubricants to improve compatibility with the gas being compressed, and strategies for efficiency improvement and compressor reliability.
Cost: $39 for members; $59 for non-members
[Click here] for more information
[Click here] to register (please log in at www.stle.org, then click here)
MWF Microbiology Basics
Date/Time: Wednesday, July 17, 2013; 12-1 pm CDT (with additional time for Q&A from 1-1:30)
Instructor: Dr. Frederick Passman, BCA, Inc.
Overview: This webinar is a primer on MWF microbiology, including what microbes are, the types of damage they can cause if left to grow uncontrolled in MWF and the health risks associated with bioaerosol exposure. The first part of the webinar will discuss the types of microbes that are commonly found in MWF, why they thrive in the MWF environment and where they are most likely to be found in MWF systems. The next part of the program will describe fluid, system and finished part damage related microbial life in MWF systems. The final segment will explain how bioaerosols are generated and the common types of diseases caused by exposure to these aerosols.
Cost: $39 for members; $59 for non-members
[Click here] for more information
[Click here] to register now (please log in at www.stle.org, then click here)
Upcoming topics:
[Click here] to view online events in our calendar
Air Compressors & Their Lubrication
Date/Time: Wednesday, July 10, 2013; 12-1 pm CDT (with additional time for Q&A from 1-1:30)
Instructor: Glenn Short, BVA
Overview: This webinar will provide you with basic compressor fundamentals, the different types of lubricants that can be used, some of the important properties compressor lubricants should possess and their proper selection. The focus will be primarily on positive displacement compressors, formulating with synthetic lubricants, and strategies for efficiency improvement and extending lubricant service life.
Cost: $39 for members; $59 for non-members
[Click here] for more information
[Click here] to register now (please log in at www.stle.org, then click here)
Gas & Process Compressor Lubricants
Date/Time: Thursday, July 11, 2013; 12-1 pm CDT (with additional time for Q&A from 1-1:30)
Instructor: Glenn Short, BVA
Overview: In this webinar, you will learn about the different types of lubricants that are used in gas and process compressors, some of the important properties compressor lubricants should possess and their proper selection. The focus will be primarily on positive displacement compressors and other compressors where the lubricant may come into contact with the gas being compressed, formulating with special types of mineral oils and synthetic lubricants to improve compatibility with the gas being compressed, and strategies for efficiency improvement and compressor reliability.
Cost: $39 for members; $59 for non-members
[Click here] for more information
[Click here] to register (please log in at www.stle.org, then click here)
MWF Microbiology Basics
Date/Time: Wednesday, July 17, 2013; 12-1 pm CDT (with additional time for Q&A from 1-1:30)
Instructor: Dr. Frederick Passman, BCA, Inc.
Overview: This webinar is a primer on MWF microbiology, including what microbes are, the types of damage they can cause if left to grow uncontrolled in MWF and the health risks associated with bioaerosol exposure. The first part of the webinar will discuss the types of microbes that are commonly found in MWF, why they thrive in the MWF environment and where they are most likely to be found in MWF systems. The next part of the program will describe fluid, system and finished part damage related microbial life in MWF systems. The final segment will explain how bioaerosols are generated and the common types of diseases caused by exposure to these aerosols.
Cost: $39 for members; $59 for non-members
[Click here] for more information
[Click here] to register now (please log in at www.stle.org, then click here)
Upcoming topics:
- 8/14: Reliability-Centered Lubrication (Part 1 of a 3-part series), with instructor Mike Johnson
- 8/21: Monitoring MWF Microbial Contamination, with instructor Fred Passman, BCA, Inc.
- 9/18: Contamination Control of MWFs, with instructor Fred Passman, BCA, Inc.
- 9/19: Emulsifiers 201, with instructors Jennifer Ineman and Tom Oleksiak, The Lubrizol Corporation
- 9/25: Reliability-Centered Lubrication (Part 2 of a 3-part series), with instructor Mike Johnson
[Click here] to view online events in our calendar
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