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Introduction to Biotribology

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Encyclopedia of Tribology

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Biotribology has been one of the most active topics in the broad field of tribology during the past 40 years. The range of subjects covered in the contributions on biotribology in the Encyclopedia on Tribology clearly demonstrate this point. The term tribology was introduced in 1966 (Department of Education and Science 1966), while aspects of the subject dedicated to biological situations were defined as biotribology shortly afterwards (Dowson 1970).

Although the variety of topics now embraced within the topic of biotribology has grown enormously over the past 40 years, it is intriguing to recognize basic similarities between the mechanisms of lubrication, friction, and wear adopted by different tissues engaged in different functions. Most interfaces in biological systems operate in a mixed lubrication regime, as do many engineering systems, with the ability to accommodate boundary, fluid film, or a mixed lubrication regime to meet functional needs. Many of the basic mechanisms of...

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Leeds, Leeds, UK

    Prof. Duncan Dowson C.B.E., F.R.S., F.R.Eng., F.R.S.E.

Authors
  1. Prof. Duncan Dowson C.B.E., F.R.S., F.R.Eng., F.R.S.E.
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Correspondence to Duncan Dowson C.B.E., F.R.S., F.R.Eng., F.R.S.E. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering and Center for Surface Engineering and Tribology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA

    Q. Jane Wang

  2. Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Center for Surface Engineering and Tribology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA

    Yip-Wah Chung

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Dowson, D. (2013). Introduction to Biotribology. In: Wang, Q.J., Chung, YW. (eds) Encyclopedia of Tribology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-92897-5_1303

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