Laboratoire de Tribologie et Dynamique des Systèmes

Manager : Fabrice Thouverez
Research at the Laboratoire de Tribologie et Dynamique des Systèmes focuses on tribology, systems dynamics and mechanics of heterogeneous solid media from the infinitely small to human-sized objects. The lab conducts multidisciplinary research, mainly in solid mechanics, and the chemistry and physics of materials. The lab brings together a community of scientists, engineers and technicians to perform high level experiments and to develop models to understand or predict surface and interface phenomena and their consequences. The lab is also strongly engaged in teaching engineering sciences and technologies for the future.
The main fields of application are tribology, systems dynamics and mechanics of heterogeneous solid media.

Expertise provided by the Laboratoire de Tribologie et Dynamique des Systèmes to LABEX covers :

• Tribology, Physical Chemistry and Dynamics of Interfaces : understanding basic phenomena in friction wear and lubrication, tribochemistry, boundary and limit lubrication, additives, thin films, surface-friction-vibration, material fatigue, fretting, texturing, wettability. Study of interface design to identify technological solutions by surface engineering, coatings and lubricants. Numerical modeling of wear, cracking and friction (FEM and QCMD codes).
• Mechanics of Materials and Processes : mechanics and modeling of living materials, computational mechanics and thermomechanical processes, numerical modeling of multiphysics coupling, study of thermos-mechanical processes.

Technical platforms : for many years, the Laboratoire de Tribologie et Dynamique des Systèmes has been an important platform for tools related to tribology and surfaces :

• identifying the mechanical properties of surfaces by nanoindentation and scratch tests,
• physical-chemical analysis of surfaces,
• topography from mm to nm scales,
• tribometers with specific and unique properties (Ultra High Vacuum tribometer, dry or lubricated conditions, high or low speed, temperature, and contact pressure).
• This large set of devices is complemented by a wide range of computers and software to model experimental situations.
• Platform to investigate fatigue, fretting wear & fretting fatigue.