Editorial

In this issue we are pleased to present five papers each covering a completely different field of research in tribology.

Workers at the Nanya Institute of Technology in Taiwan, Republic of China,have collaborated to produce more theoretical analysis on squeeze films. This very common tribological situation is normally looked at, in the context of Newtonian fluids but these researchers have considered the situation becoming more frequent in practise namely the use of non-Newtonian fluids.

Cem SinanogÆlu from the Erciyes University in Turkey uses neural networks to analyse the effects of surface roughness in journal bearings.

Working at the University of Jordan, Osama Abuzeid has produced a mathematical model analysing the contact between a flat punch and a smooth surface.

Researchers at the Celal Bayar University and Sakarya University in Turkey have been studying the results of treating a stainless steel substrate with ions of zirconium and oxygen.

Finally, in this issue we return to the subject of squeeze films. Researchers at the Gulbarga University in India report on the effects of surface roughness on curved circular plates.

My comments recently about the predominance of pure research being carried out today in preference to work with more immediate practical application have provoked some response from readers. I do agree that some pure research is vital, but I am also aware that there must be a balance. It does seem to me that it would be very useful if researchers would aim their conclusions at how their work could eventually lead to a practical outcome.

We know that the practical tribological world has always moved much faster than the theoretical world. We have usually known that something works long before we know why! I know it will be heresy to many but I do wonder if there should be closer links between industry and research institutions.

What do you think?