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Lubricants
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Novel Tribology in Drivetrain Components
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Novel Tribology in Drivetrain Components

A special issue of Lubricants (ISSN 2075-4442).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 9751

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Walter Martin Holweger

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Technical Consultat, D-72351 Geislingen, Germany
2. Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
Interests: advanced materials research; components; bearings; rolling contact fatigue; white etching cracks; tribology and lubrication
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Mario Brito

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Southampton Business School, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
Interests: artificial intelligence; machine learning; components; bearings; reliability; availability; tribology and lubrication; dynamic probabilistic risk assessment of complex systems; impact of organizational factors on socio-technical systems risk; root cause analysis and accident investigations
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The next era requires a novel approach toward drivetrain technology. This includes the invention of new sustainable materials with consideration for ecological aspects. Basically, these efforts aim to reduce friction and wear with a favorable CO2 footprint for the duration of the drivetrain’s operational life. Currently, the reliability of industrial and automotive drivetrains in their life cycle is based on the robustness of the tribological system, held together by steel components and the use of appropriate lubricants. However, modern tribology has to consider inherent electricity and achieving viscosity in order to minimize the energy losses caused by splashing. These aspects revolve around tribology and lubrication, such that basic mechanisms governing friction and wear have to be researched continuously for the load-carrying and load-transmitting components exemplarily represented by the bearings and gears. Moreover, sustainability leads to the question of how nature-derived materials, as the most sustainable and de-centralized resources available, could substitute the current technology mainly based on the chemistry of hydrocarbons. The overall presence of electricity in such components will cause impacts, and the basic mechanisms are not yet concisely understood. As the robustness of a drivetrain is at the forefront of mechanical, physical, and chemical engineering, plenty of data are needed in order to obtain their scales and dimensions. Consequently, a novel tribology is inevitable, accompanied by data science based on the fundamentals of chemistry and physics and assisted by machine learning technology. We invite all researchers in mechanical, physical, and chemical engineering, as well as data scientists worldwide, to share their thoughts, opinions, and results on this fascinating new tribology study in the new module offered by MDPI.

Prof. Dr. Walter Martin Holweger
Prof. Dr. Mario Brito
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.

Keywords

  • tribology
  • lubrication
  • components
  • bearings
  • gears
  • industrial and automotive drivetrains

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

31 pages, 8943 KB  
Article
An Investigation into the Effects of Lubricant Type on Thermal Stability and Efficiency of Cycloidal Reducers
by Milan Vasić, Mirko Blagojević, Milan Banić and Tihomir Mačkić
Lubricants 2026, 14(2), 48; https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants14020048 - 23 Jan 2026
Viewed by 755
Abstract
Modern power transmission systems are required to meet increasingly stringent demands, including a wide range of transmission ratios, compact dimensions, high precision, energy efficiency, reliability, and thermal stability under dynamic operating conditions. Among the solutions that satisfy these requirements, cycloidal reducers are particularly [...] Read more.
Modern power transmission systems are required to meet increasingly stringent demands, including a wide range of transmission ratios, compact dimensions, high precision, energy efficiency, reliability, and thermal stability under dynamic operating conditions. Among the solutions that satisfy these requirements, cycloidal reducers are particularly prominent, with their application continuously expanding in industrial robotics, computer numerical control (CNC) machines, and military and transportation systems, as well as in the satellite industry. However, as with all mechanical power transmissions, friction in the contact zones of load-carrying elements in cycloidal reducers leads to power losses and an increase in operating temperature, which in turn results in a range of adverse effects. These undesirable phenomena strongly depend on lubrication conditions, namely on the type and properties of the applied lubricant. Although manufacturers’ catalogs provide general recommendations for lubricant selection, they do not address the fundamental tribological mechanisms in the most heavily loaded contact pairs. At the same time, the available scientific literature reveals a significant lack of systematic and experimentally validated studies examining the influence of lubricant type on the energetic and thermal performance of cycloidal reducers. To address this identified research gap, this study presents an analytical and experimental investigation of the effects of different lubricant types—primarily greases and mineral oils—on the thermal stability and efficiency of cycloidal reducers. The results demonstrate that grease lubrication provides lower total power losses and a more stable thermal operating regime compared to oil lubrication, while oil film thickness analyses indicate that the most unfavorable lubrication conditions occur in the contact between the eccentric bearing rollers and the outer raceway. These findings provide valuable guidelines for engineers involved in cycloidal reducer design and lubricant selection under specific operating conditions, as well as deeper insight into the lubricant behavior mechanisms within critical contact zones. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Tribology in Drivetrain Components)
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17 pages, 5296 KB  
Article
Modeling and Prediction of Tribological Performance of Surface Textures on Spherical Hydrostatic–Hydrodynamic Bearings
by Huanlin Xu, Chunxing Gu and Di Zhang
Lubricants 2025, 13(9), 408; https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants13090408 - 12 Sep 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 974
Abstract
Spherical hydrostatic-hydrodynamic bearings (SHHBs) combine the advantages of hydrostatic and hydrodynamic lubrication. Endowed with the characteristics of withstanding heavy loads, reducing friction, and self-aligning, they are widely applied in high-precision machinery and extreme environment systems. However, current research on the impact of surface [...] Read more.
Spherical hydrostatic-hydrodynamic bearings (SHHBs) combine the advantages of hydrostatic and hydrodynamic lubrication. Endowed with the characteristics of withstanding heavy loads, reducing friction, and self-aligning, they are widely applied in high-precision machinery and extreme environment systems. However, current research on the impact of surface textures on bearing lubrication performance has predominantly concentrated on journal bearings, while systematic studies concerning textures for spherical bearings remain relatively inadequate. Therefore, this study developed a lubrication model for SHHBs, aiming to analyze the impact of surface textures on such bearings, with a specific focus on investigating the effects of circular and rectangular surface textures on the load-carrying capacity and friction force of SHHBs. The research results demonstrate that both shapes of surface textures can effectively improve the performance of SHHBs. Specifically, for rectangular surface textures, when rp=3.0 mm, h¯p=2.4, the load-carrying capacity of the bearing is increased by 19.01%. It is also revealed that for both shapes of surface textures, when ε=0.4, ωz=1800 deg/s, increasing the radial clearance leads to a reduction in the bearing’s load-carrying capacity. This work provides a theoretical foundation for designing advanced SHHBs with surface texturing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Tribology in Drivetrain Components)
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23 pages, 5372 KB  
Article
Lubrication Reliability and Evolution Laws of Gear Transmission Considering Uncertainty Parameters
by Jiaxing Pei, Yuanyuan Tian, Hongjuan Hou, Yourui Tao, Miaojie Wu and Leilei Wang
Lubricants 2025, 13(9), 392; https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants13090392 - 3 Sep 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1471
Abstract
To address the challenge of predicting lubrication states and reliability caused by the uncertainty of gear materials and structural parameters, a lubrication reliability analysis method considering the randomness of gear parameters is proposed. Firstly, a nonlinear dynamic model of a gear pair is [...] Read more.
To address the challenge of predicting lubrication states and reliability caused by the uncertainty of gear materials and structural parameters, a lubrication reliability analysis method considering the randomness of gear parameters is proposed. Firstly, a nonlinear dynamic model of a gear pair is established to derive the dynamic meshing force. The geometric and kinematic analyses are then performed to determine time-varying equivalent curvature radius and entrainment velocity. The minimum film thickness during meshing is further calculated. Considering gear parameters as random variables, a gear lubrication reliability model is formulated. Monte Carlo Simulation method is employed to accurately analyze the dynamic response, dynamic meshing force, equivalent curvature radius, entrainment velocity, probability distribution of minimum film thickness, and gear lubrication failure probability. Additionally, a specialized wear test device is designed to investigate the evolution of tooth surface roughness with wear and to forecast trends in gear lubrication failure probability as wear progresses. The results indicate that the uncertainty in gear parameters have minimal impact on the equivalent curvature radius and entrainment velocity, but significantly affect the dynamic meshing force. The gear speed and root mean square roughness are critical factors affecting lubrication reliability, and the early wear of the teeth enhances the lubrication reliability. The present work provides valuable insights for the design, maintenance, and optimization of high-performance gear systems in practical engineering applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Tribology in Drivetrain Components)
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21 pages, 12654 KB  
Article
Numerical Simulation and Experimental Study on the Role of Jet Angle in Controlling the Flow of Transmission Gears
by Tiangang Zou, Qingdong Yan, Wei Hou, Chunyu Wang, Ziqiang Zhang and Junye Li
Lubricants 2025, 13(5), 225; https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants13050225 - 16 May 2025
Viewed by 1131
Abstract
Gears play an important role in modern machinery and are indispensable transmission components, particularly at high speeds, where lubrication is essential for the reliability and efficiency of the gear unit. In order to study the oil coverage law and heat dissipation mechanism of [...] Read more.
Gears play an important role in modern machinery and are indispensable transmission components, particularly at high speeds, where lubrication is essential for the reliability and efficiency of the gear unit. In order to study the oil coverage law and heat dissipation mechanism of high-speed rotating meshing gears by injection angle, this paper adopts the moving particle semi-implicit method to establish a high-speed rotating gear lubrication model, study the intrinsic effect of different jet angles on gear lubrication, and build a gear lubrication bench for experimental verification. Numerical simulation found that with an increase in spray angle, the gear surface coverage and heat transfer coefficient of the high-speed rotating transmission gears initially increase and then decrease. They reflect the same lubrication law characteristics. When the injection angle was 90°, the surface coverage and heat transfer coefficient values were at their greatest, resulting in the best spray lubricating effect. According to the experimental results, under the conditions of 0.5 MPa injection pressure and high-speed rotation of the transmission gear with vertical injection, the lubricant covers the largest surface area of the gear and the least power loss. Simultaneously, in our previous study, we experimentally obtained the optimal parameter conditions on the basis of which we derived. The effect of nozzle diameter on jet lubrication was investigated in a previous study, and in this article, the effect of nozzle angle and distance on gear lubrication is investigated; the optimal conditions for high-speed lubrication of gears are the incident distance of 3.5 cm, incident angle of 90°, incident diameter of 1.5 mm, and gear speed of 2000 r/min, and the lubrication effect reaches the best ideal state; reduction in oil loss due to oil injection lubrication and power loss due to different parameters of the lubrication system. Lubrication design provides a theoretical foundation for the transmission system. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Tribology in Drivetrain Components)
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23 pages, 13109 KB  
Article
Study of the Effect of Regulating Alloying Elements and Optimizing Heat Treatment Processes on the Microstructure Properties of 20MnCr5 Steel Gears
by Li Luo, Yong Chen, Fucheng Zhao, Weifeng Hua, Xu Song, Zhengyun Xu and Zhicheng Jia
Lubricants 2025, 13(5), 202; https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants13050202 - 1 May 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2398
Abstract
To optimize heat treatment of gears for high-end equipment and enhance their fatigue resistance, this paper studied the effects of Al, Mn and Cr content on surface microstructure, i.e., martensite, retained austenite, grain size, hardened layer depth and residual stress under different carburizing [...] Read more.
To optimize heat treatment of gears for high-end equipment and enhance their fatigue resistance, this paper studied the effects of Al, Mn and Cr content on surface microstructure, i.e., martensite, retained austenite, grain size, hardened layer depth and residual stress under different carburizing temperatures and low tempering of 20MnCr5 steel FZG gear. With numerical simulation combined with experimental verification, this paper establishes a simulation model for the carburizing process of 20MnCr5 steel FZG gear, analyzing the microstructure and retained austenite volume of the gear surface, after carburizing and quenching, by a scanning electronic microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). In addition, the paper reveals the influence of the optimized heat treatment on the residual stress of the gear regulated with Al, Mn and Cr content in the meshing wear range of 200~280 µm. This study provides a guiding model theory and experimental verification for regulating proportions of alloying elements and optimizing the heat treatment process of low-carbon-alloy steel. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Tribology in Drivetrain Components)
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20 pages, 30551 KB  
Article
Effect of Gear Body Temperature on the Dynamic Characteristics of Spiral Bevel Gears
by Xi-Qing Zheng, Jun-Hong Hui and Hui-Qing Lan
Lubricants 2025, 13(2), 82; https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants13020082 - 13 Feb 2025
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2053
Abstract
Thermal effect is an important cause of gear system engineering failure. Spiral bevel gears are widely used in helicopter transmissions, but scuffing often occurs during operation. Tooth surface body temperature is an important factor influencing scuffing in scuffing standards. A thermal dynamic model [...] Read more.
Thermal effect is an important cause of gear system engineering failure. Spiral bevel gears are widely used in helicopter transmissions, but scuffing often occurs during operation. Tooth surface body temperature is an important factor influencing scuffing in scuffing standards. A thermal dynamic model of spiral bevel gear transmission was developed based on varying tooth body temperatures under different oil spray conditions. Vibration acceleration experiments were conducted using a dedicated scuffing test rig. The results indicate that higher oil spray temperatures intensify vibrations, with a 24.3% increase in the maximum variance of vibration acceleration. Mesh frequency and stiffness decrease, increasing the likelihood of tooth surface failures such as scuffing. Accurate monitoring of tooth body temperature is critical to ensuring the reliable operation of spiral bevel gears in helicopter transmissions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Tribology in Drivetrain Components)
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