1. The Optimisation of Plasma Sprayed Molybdenum Based Wear Resistant Coatings Through Computational Techniques Student: Simon Montgomery Supervisors:Dr. David Kennedy Prof. Noel O’Dowd 12/01/2010 DIT/UL Postgraduate Research Initiative Common Interest Group

2. Background The wear of materials is of critical importance to the working life of components and machines Prediction, prevention and protection from wear is essential to minimise damage and cost Mathematical (e.g. Archard) and computational modelling have been used to predict material wear 12/01/2010 DIT/UL Postgraduate Research Initiative Common Interest Group 2 Dahlberg, J. and B. Alfredsson, Surface stresses at an axisymmetric asperity in a rolling contact with traction. International Journal of Fatigue, 2008. 30(9): p. 1606-1622.

3. Goals and Objectives Main goal: to deposit, test and optimise high wear resistant coatings via the use of flame sprayed, molybdenum based coatings Objectives to achieve goal: 12/01/2010 DIT/UL Postgraduate Research Initiative Common Interest Group 3 Material deposition Wear testing Compare coating techniques Computational modelling

4. Research Design And Gantt Chart 12/01/2010 DIT/UL Postgraduate Research Initiative Common Interest Group 4 Work areas divided into tasks needed to achieve objectives. For example: Deposition must centre on process specification, material selection etc. Modelling will focus on geometry interaction, material properties and computational variables Information sharing e.g. coating properties from deposition process used in modelling to predict performance

5. Research Progress Progress to date centres on the practical application of coatings and the development of an initial wear testing apparatus Mo based coatings were deposited on aluminium plate using a flame spraying technique Series of meetings with Supervisors in UL and DIT 12/01/2010 DIT/UL Postgraduate Research Initiative Common Interest Group 5 Additional progress: literary review process and conference paper

6. Research Progress The second area of progress is the production of a prototype wear rig Results: the rig successfully wore away a track of material from the surface. However movement of the pin/tool during the test needs to be controlled 12/01/2010 DIT/UL Postgraduate Research Initiative Common Interest Group 6

7. Some challenges Learning the use of the Abaqus system. (Meetings with Professor O’Dowd to overcome this through tutorials and user manuals) Practicing Deposition process. (assistance from fellow researcher) 12/01/2010 DIT/UL Postgraduate Research Initiative Common Interest Group 7

8. Conferences MATRIB International conference of Materials and Tribology. A conference paper was produced and presented Paper title: “Analysis of Wear Models for Advanced Coated Materials” May be worked on to convert to Journal publication. 12/01/2010 DIT/UL Postgraduate Research Initiative Common Interest Group 8

9. Questions and Answers? Thank you for your time 12/01/2010 DIT/UL Postgraduate Research Initiative Common Interest Group 9