Pioneering research and skills
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
Improving safety across industries The UK economy loses £24 billion (1.6 per cent of the country’s GDP) every year because of problems with friction, wear and lubrication in transport, manufacturing, energy and life sciences. Researchers at the EPSRC-supported national Centre of Advanced Tribology (nCATS) at the University of Southampton are exploring ways of reducing this damage. Tribology is the study of interacting surfaces in relative motion and researchers led by Professor Robert Woods have been examining many serious tribological issues through a series of projects with industry. A collaboration with the US Office of Naval Research, Chevron Oronite and GE Aviation has resulted in the development of advanced sensors that can detect signs of wear on surfaces and also monitor the oil condition in running machinery. The Centre has also developed a new electrostatic sensor to detect potentially damaging wear and oil quality, which are energy efficient and work in real time. Clients, including GE Aviation, have now integrated this technology into their commercial sensor systems.
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