Modern Approaches to Tribological Modelling

This presentation is a review of early approaches to tribological modelling, ranging from analytical studies, through to direct modelling using high-level languages such as FORTRAN, C and C++, with a comparison to more modern tools such as Excel, MATLAB and COMSOL. Excel can be useful as a learning tool in tribology since the Reynolds' equation can be easily implemented in finite difference form. Excel can also be used to put 'front ends' on software that has previously been developed in FORTRAN, C or C++. Tools such as MATLAB have become available, and have the advantages that (1) any MATLAB model will be independent of the computer operating system, (2) since MATLAB is optimised for vector and matrix operations, tight code can be developed, reducing the number of lines of code, (3) there are in-built functions that can also be used to reduce the lines of code that need to be written. Most recently, there have appeared general-purpose finite element solvers, such as COMSOL, that appear to be capable of solving even hard lubrication problems (such as thermoelastohydrodynamic lubrication with non-Newtonian lubricants) in reasonable time. The advantages of such techniques are discussed.