In September 2005, I attended the World Tribology Congress (WTC) in Washington, D.C. along with hundreds of tribology dignitaries from around the world. The WTC was sponsored by the International Tribology Council, an organization headed by H. Peter Jost.

Professor Jost resides in London and is without doubt the most well-known name in tribology today. I interviewed Jost for this column in Washington, D.C. and later followed up with more questions that only he could answer.

Before getting into our conversation, let me mention only a few of his countless recognitions. Professor Jost is an ASME Life Fellow, receiving the first honorary science doctorate of the millennium from the V.A. Belyi Metal-Polymer Research Institute of National Academy of Sciences of Belarus.

He is chairman of several industrial technology companies. He has received state honors from France, Germany, Poland, the United Kingdom and Austria, and holds two honorary professorships and nine honorary doctorates.

The post Interview with Luminary Professor H. Peter Jost – The Man who Gave Birth to the Word “Tribology” appeared first on Tesibis.

In the beginning, man invented machines. One of the first machines, and perhaps the most celebrated invention of all time, was the cart or wagon incorporating the wheel. This was soon followed by a chariot. Examples of early chariots were found in the tombs of Yuaa and Thuiu in Egypt dating to 1400 B.C.

Soon it was noticed that the hubs of the wooden wheels used on chariots were becoming charred from frictional heat. It has been speculated that attempts were made to cool the hub with water after races. Eventually, experimentation led to the use of other liquids including olive oil and fats. To their surprise, the Egyptians noticed that some of the more viscous liquids not only dissipated heat but also prevented much of it from forming in the first place. At the same time, they observed that the wheels were turning more freely. Of course, these early discoveries marked the dawn of machinery lubrication.

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The word “noria” comes from the Arabic term, Na-urah, meaning “the first water machine.” It was the earliest mechanical device propelled by means other than man or animal. The noria was an inevitable invention that sparked the development of countless types of hydraulic and rotating machines. Over the centuries, it has allowed civilizations to nourish their villages and crops with water, the most fundamental of resources. In time, this triggered the beginning of a new era – the turning of arid lands into prosperous empires.

Unfortunately, there are limited historical accounts describing these ancient machines, making much of the story about the noria a bit of a mystery. It is uncertain when and where the first noria came into existence. Yet some information does exist to help piece together a possible evolution of the noria and subsequent machines. The following is a brief summary of this early chronology based on available historical and engineering references.

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It is no wonder that Mario Andretti is considered by many to be the greatest racecar driver of all time. His career touched five decades, longer than any driver, and he has won championships at all levels of competition. His list of racing accomplishments seems almost endless. It includes four time Champ Car National Champion (1965, 1966, 1969, 1984); the only person to have won the Daytona 500 (1967), the Indianapolis 500 (1969) and the Grand Prix world driving championship (1978); the only driver to win Champ Car races in four decades; and the only driver to ever win races in five decades. In addition, Andretti was named Driver of the Century by The Associated Press in 1999 and Driver of the Century by RACER magazine in 2000. Andretti considers his 1978 Formula One World Championship to be his most memorable racing achievement.

The post The Greatest Racecar Driver of All Time. Mario Andretti Talks to Jim Fitch appeared first on Tesibis.

Some of you are personally acquainted with my father, Dr. Ernest C. Fitch. Others may know of him by reputation or perhaps through his publications.

His knowledge and vision have been an inspiration to me throughout my career. He is a great mentor and motivator. He is known for the mark he made in the fields of tribology and fluid power. However, in my mind, it was his seminal work in contamination control that most encouraged me to publish this interview. From my observations, the applied knowledge of contamination control in the previous 25 years by hundreds of companies and government agencies has had a far-reaching and lasting impact on machine reliability, more so than any other maintenance initiative during the same period.

The post A Conversation with Dad – Pioneer, Educator and Mentor in Fluid Contamination Control appeared first on Tesibis.