Advances in Dry and Lubricated Electrical Contacts

Dear Colleagues,

An electrical contact is classically defined as the interface across which an electrical current flows between two conductors. Electrical contacts can be stationary or dynamic, dry or lubricated. The physical phenomena and processes occurring at the contact interface have not yet been fully understood. To determine the contact resistance, signal transmission efficiency, and degradation mechanisms of electrical contacts, multiphysics of mechanical, electrical, thermal, and flow fields might be needed.

Additionally, the trend towards electrification presents new challenges for the design and lubrication of machine elements, including bearings and gears in electric vehicles, high-speed trains, and wind turbines. The subjected tribological contacts could also be regarded as oil or grease-lubricated electrical contacts. In such contacts, electrical discharge can cause surface damage. A physical understanding of the electrical damage processes is necessary in order to take measures to prevent the damages, either through insolation or through conductive lubricants. Quantifying and categorising different forms of electrical damage is also wanted.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to share advances in understanding specific phenomena and novel aspects in the field of dry and lubricated electrical contacts. Experimental and theoretical studies are both highly welcome.

Dr. Haibo Zhang
Dr. Haichao Liu
Dr. Yiming Han
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Lubricants is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.