Sustainable tribology for reliability and efficiency

Abstract

This special issue includes a collection of papers presented at the International Tribology Research Symposium (ITRS) 2021, held from 8^th to 10^th December 2021 in a virtual mode with the Tribology for Sustainability and Reliability theme. It has been observed that the types of machinery and components are improving daily as per the requirements to fulfill human needs. Due to these requirements in human necessities, new tribological challenges have developed that affect the reliability and efficiency of machinery and engineering components. Furthermore, the governments have also implemented stringent rules and regulations on industries to reduce environmental pollution. Researchers have developed sustainable (green) lubricants, superlubricity concepts in many engineering components, and new methodologies for contact area reduction, such as self-lubricating coatings, surface texturing, and surface modification. Therefore, this editorial has explored tribological advances, and Triboinformatics approaches for achieving sustainability and reliability. The practical, sustainable tribological approaches for the well-being of the society highlighted in this editorial are 1. Sustainable lubrication, 2. Space tribology, 3. Triboinformatics, 4. Biotribology, 5. Additive manufacturing, 6. Light metal matrix composites, 7. Sustainable machining, 8. Electric vehicles. These sustainable tribological approaches deliberated by the plenary, keynote, and invited speakers and participants of ITRS 2021 are guidelines for future research directions of tribology.