Tribology Division

The Tribology Division of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) is established to serve the members and associate members of the ASME who have designated their interest in the science & technology of Tribology. The field of Tribology includes the analysis of friction, wear, lubrication phenomena and the application of such principles to mechanical design, product development, manufacturing processes & machine operation.

The objectives of the Division, which serve as the basis for its committees, include:

• Gathering & disseminating knowledge in Tribology through all forms of publication
• Organizing knowledge in Tribology for educational purposes
• Exchanging knowledge in Tribology through personal interaction at technical expositions
• Encouraging a cooperative exchange of ideas in Tribology between the industrial & academic communities
• Informing the membership of collaborative opportunities with the international Tribology community
• Publicizing noteworthy accomplishments of the members
• Identifying & promoting opportunities for research & development in Tribology

Upcoming Events: 

Register now: https://asme.zoom.us/meeting/register/GBLIKOjMQI-ADZDPbnCl9g#/registration

March 31, 2025 12 noon ET
Two-dimensional transition metal carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides, known as MXenes, were discovered in 2011 by Naguib et al. at Drexel University. Since then, MXenes have gained prominence in energy storage, catalysis, electromagnetic shielding, wireless communications, sensors, and biomedical applications. Their mechanical properties, flexibility, and strong adhesion are critical to these uses. Despite their impressive performance, the relationship between MXenes’ mechanical and tribological properties and their synthesis process remains underexplored. This talk provides a fundamental overview of MXenes’ mechanical and tribological behavior, emphasizing the effects of composition, synthesis, and processing. It also highlights how compositional control can create innovative low-friction, low-wear films with superlubricity, high durability, and enhanced structural integrity. Case studies will showcase applications in machine components (e.g., roller bearings) and biomedical implants (bio-tribology).

Bio:
Andreas Rosenkranz is a Professor of Materials-Oriented Tribology and New 2D Materials at the University of Chile. His research focuses on the characterization, functionalization, and application of 2D materials, particularly in tribology, water purification, and catalysis. He has published over 200 peer-reviewed papers in top journals such as Nature Reviews Materials and Advanced Materials. A fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, he serves as a scientific editor for journals like Journal of Tribology (ASME) and Applied Nanoscience (Springer).
 

More coming soon in the meantime, check out our recorded webinars are available under the Resources Tab.

Recognition of outstanding achievement in engineering is one of the major objectives of ASME. Through its programs of honors and awards, ASME recognizes outstanding contributions to the art and science of engineering.

Society Awards

• Mayo D. Hersey Award
  Award is bestowed on an individual in recognition of distinguished and continued contributions over a substantial period of time to the advancement of the science and engineering of tribology.
• Burt L. Newkirk Award
  It is given to one who has made a notable contribution to the field of tribology in research or development as evidenced by important tribology publications.
• Marshall B. Peterson Award
  The Marshall P. Peterson Award is given biennially in recognition of an early-career achievement and promise for pursuit of research in tribology.

Division Awards

• Journal of Tribology Best Paper Award
• Innovative Research Award
• Timken K.L. Johnson Award
• Seagate Award (Discontinued)
• Donald Wilcock Distinguised Service Award

 

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Important Award Information For Recipients of Monetary Awards

Please note that honorariums cannot be distributed without receipt of applicable tax forms. If you are a recipient of a monetary award, you will be contacted by ASME staff regarding tax forms you will need to complete, as well as how to submit them to us.

2024-2025 Division Executive Committee
Chair, Bharat Bhushan
Vice Chair, Farshid Sadeghi, PHD
Secretary, Sriram Sundararajan, Ph.D.
Member, Min Zou
Member, Tevis D. Jacobs
Member, Mr. Nick Weinzapfel
Communications & Outreach, Stefanie Hanke
Special Assignment, Farshid Sadeghi, PHD
Staff Liaison, April Tone - Sr. Manager, TEC Operations

Links to helpful online resources related to the division are below. If you have suggestions for other resources, please contact the division chair or ASME staff.

• ASME Landmarks Program
  Landmarks, sites and collections of historic importance to mechanical engineering are designated by ASME through its History and Heritage Landmarks Program.
• ASME History and Heritage
  ASME fosters the preservation of mechanical engineering innovations used in a wide range of applications through its History and Heritage program.

Other Links of Interest

U.S. Based Organizations

• American Bearing Manufacturers Association (ABMA)
• American Gear Manufacturers Association (AGMA)
• The Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (STLE)

U.S. Government Agencies and Departments

• National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
• National Science Foundation (NSF)

Others

• Fluid Sealing Association
• Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association (ILMA)

Publications

• Journal of Tribology
• Facilities Engineerings
• Journal Journal of Testing and Evaluation
• Journal of Metals
• Lube Magazine

We are committed to organizing education in mechanical engineering surrounding Tribology technical areas. Below is the latest event sponsored by the division.

Friction and nanoscale wear of stiff multi-contact interfaces (video coming soon)
By: Bart Weber, Advanced Research Center for Nanolithography

Vehicle Fluids - New Tribology Challenges
By: Dr. Peter Lee, Southwest Research Institute 

Nanoparticle suspension for energy efficiency

by: Jacqueline Krim, Physics Department, North Carolina State University

 

Elucidating the Atomic-scale Mechanisms respobsible for Adhesion, Friction and Tribochemistry using Computer Simulations

by: Dr. Judith A Harrison, U.S. Naval Academy

Challenges and Opportunities for a Sustainable E-Mobility: Recent Progress and Future Prospects

by: Ali Erdemir, J. Mike Walker '66 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M

Strategies & Approaches for Tribological Phenomena Understanding
by: Sylvie Descartes (Dr. -Ing, HDR)

Lessons from Nature: Bioinspired Mechanically Durable and Self-healing Superliquiphilic/phobic Surfaces
By: Dr. Bharat Bhushan, Tribology Division Chair
Tribology TEC Talk  (video viewable by ASME members only)
Tribology TEC Talk Slides


High-Efficiency Low-Tocixity Ionic Liquids as Lubrican Additioves#
Presented by Jun Qui - Materials Science & Technology Division, Oak Ridget National Laboratory
Presentation Slides: ASME-TD-Seminar-2024-1-29

Recent Developments in Synthesis and Process-Structure-Performance Understanding of MoS2 Thin Films

by: Michael T. Dugger, Sandia National Laboratories

Lubrication of Innovative Engineered Bearings and Industrial Motion Components
by: Dr. Ali Erdimir, Professor and Halliburton Chair in Engineering in the Mechanical Engineering Department of Texas A&M University

Seeing the Hidden Interface: Revealing Nanoscale Mechanisms of Contact, Adhesion, and Friction by in situ Experiments
by: R.W. Carpick, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, University of Pennsylvania

The Tribology of Touch 
Cynthia Hipwell, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University

In-Situ SEM Tribological Testing of 3D-Printed Micro/Nano-Textured Surfaces
by: Mahyar Afshar-Mohajer, University of Arkansas

Tribocorrosion Aspects of Biomedical Implants: Where are we now?
by: Dr. Mathew Mathew, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago

Electrical Contact and Lubrication
Dr. Robert Jackson, Auburn University

Wear mechanisms or the relations of microstructure and wear in metals
by: Dr. Stefanie Hanke, Tribology Division Secretary

Towards a Predictive Understanding of the Effect of Surface Topography on Surface Properties
By: Tevis D. B. Jacobs

Nature’s Multiscale Design and Smart Manufacturing of Materials
By: Xiaodong (Chris) Li

Molecular dynamics simulations: What are they and why tribologists should care
By: Dr. Ashlie Martini