2018 Tribology Frontiers Conference
(Co-sponsored by STLE and ASME Tribology Division)
The Drake Hotel Chicago
October 28-31, 2018
Chicago, Illinois (USA)



The deadline for submitting one-page abstracts is March 15, 2018.  After March 15, the submission site will remain open to receive abstracts on the waitlist, as well as for invited posters and student posters.

The Tribology Frontiers Conference (TFC) is focused on the role tribology plays as the interface of physics, chemistry, materials science and mechanical engineering. We invite authors to submit an abstract for consideration by the review committee as a podium or poster presentation. Authors may choose either of two abstract submission formats. One-page extended abstracts based on the conference template will (1.) be given primary consideration for podium presentations by the review committee, (2.) be archived as a PDF by STLE, web searchable, and available for citation, and (3.) not require transfer of copyrights.

Click on this link to download an example extended abstract for use as a template. Traditional abstracts (150-250 words) should be submitted for poster presentations and will be given secondary consideration by the review committee when submitted for podium presentations. Click on this link to review the list of topics and keywords that can be used as a guide to potential categorical recommendations for your submission.

NEW FOR 2018!
In addition to the student poster competition, the 2018 TFC will feature a special “Meet the PI” poster session where tribology thought-leaders will have the opportunity to workshop their ideas and get feedback from the technical community. We encourage all principal investigators to submit a short poster abstract on a topic of their choice to the "Meet the PI" poster session. Topics may include, but are not limited to, a recent advancement or development, an unexpected finding in search of explanation, a new passion project, new opportunities for tribology research in untapped areas, and general challenges to the technical community. 

Conference Highlights
  • More than 200 presentations on all aspects of tribology research
  • Plenary talks by tribology’s visionaries
  • Opportunities for networking and discussion with principal investigators
  • Archival one-page extended abstracts that are searchable and citable
  • 20-minute talks in technical sessions over four days
  • Registration fee discount for students and monetary prizes for poster award winners

Invited Speakers for the 2018 TFC include:


W. Gregory Sawyer
(University of Florida)
presenting
"Tribology in Biomedicine"
 
Professor Stanislav Gorb
(University of Kiel)
presenting
"Snake Skin Tribology"
 
Dr. Nicole Zander
(Army Research Lab)
presenting
"Additive Manufacturing
Materials and Technologies"

Message from the 2018 TFC Chair 

Dear Industry Professionals,

The 2018 Tribology Frontiers Conference Planning Committee is partnering with TLT magazine, STLE's monthly publication, to feature highlights from the 2016 TFC.

These papers were chosen by a committee comprised of some of our most distinguished and well-respected colleagues in tribology research. We then asked the authors of those papers to create abstracts of their work. These abstracts will be published monthly in TLT until the 2018 TFC.

The TFC differs from other tribology research conferences in that we have a very specific theme. All research is aimed at discovering the role tribology will play in solving tomorrow's most critical technical, environmental and societal problems.

After the TFC debuted in Chicago in 2014, STLE held TFCs in 2015 and 2016. While STLE did not host the TFC in 2017, as we partnered with the Chinese Tribology Institute on the 2017 World Tribology Congress, we will again present the TFC in October 2018. We're returning to the historic Drake Hotel in downtown Chicago.

Registration for the 2018 Tribology Frontiers Conference will begin after the 73rd STLE Annual Meeting & Exhibition in Minneapolis in May.

I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to the TFC Highlights Selection Committee for their selection of the best papers.

Enjoy the abstracts - and I'll see you in Chicago in October 2018.

Best regards,
Dr. David L. Burris


TFC Highlight Selection Committee

  • Gary Doll, University of Akron
  • Benjamin Gould, Argonne National Laboratory
  • Harman Khare, University of Pennsylvania
  • Ashlie Martini, University of California, Merced
  • Robert Jackson, Auburn University
  • Peter Jacobs, ExxonMobil
  • Tevis Jacobs, University of Pittsburgh
  • Bart Raeymakers, University of Utah 

Highlights from the 2016 Tribology Frontiers Conference

1. Shining a light on the Tribological Rehydration of Cartilage by Axel Moore, Brian Graham, Chris Price and David Burris, University of Delaware

2. Mechanics of Subsurface: A New Look at the Old Problems of Wear by Ramin Aghababaei, Jean-Francois Molinari (Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne), and Derek H. Warner (Cornell University)

3. Nanoscale Subsurface Imaging and Control of Friction using Ultrasonic Atomic Force Microscopy by Philip Egberts, Hossein Jiryaei and Seonghwan Kim, University of Calgary

4. Dynamic Shear Force Microscopy as a Tool to Explore Molecular Mechanisms of Lubrication by Roland Bennewitz and Gunther Kramer, INM - Leibniz Institute for New Materials & Physics Dept. Saarland University

5. Measuring a Surface Film of Oil with Surface Continuous Wave Ultrasound by Prof. Rob Dwyer-Joyce, Leonardo Center for Tribology, University of Sheffield

6. Graphene-Based Superlubricity Solution for Macroscale Applications by Diana Berman, Ali Erdemir and Anirudha V.  Sumant, Argonne National Laboratory.

7. The Effect of Coating Thickness and Substrate Roughness on Tool Wear During Turning by M. Bar-Hen, Iscar LTD and I. Etsion Technion