Friction and Wear Processes – Thermodynamic Approach

Tribology, as the scientific and professional discipline within the mechanical engineering, studies phenomena and processes on the interacting surfaces, in direct and indirect contact and in relative motion. It includes the study and application of the principles of friction, wear and lubrication, as well as phenomena connected with these processes. Given that a process involving friction is always accompanied by transformation of energy, more precisely an energy dissipation process which generates entropy, the concept of thermodynamic entropy production analysis represents one of appropriate tools for studying and analysing the behaviour of complex friction and wear processes. This paper presents a review of published works in which the thermodynamic approach was used in analysing the friction and wear processes in tribosystems