Meet the team: SLµgG
The Solid Lubricant(s) in μ gravity from Gdańsk (SLµgG) experiment team is composed of 7 students from Gdańsk University of Technology in Poland. The aim of the experiment is to study the effect of microgravity and air pressure on the ability of solid lubricants to dampen mechanical vibrations.
| University: | Gdańsk University of Technology |
| Endorsing Professors: | Prof. Jacek Łubiński, PhD Eng. Adam Dąbrowski, Prof. Małgorzata Szczerska |
| Team: | Szymon Krawczuk, Julia Sulima, Natalia Askierko, Natalia Pęczek, Jan Ignacy Łubiński, Daniel Cieślak, Jakub Gierowski |
The mechanics of friction in microgravity is not yet fully understood. The SLµgG project aims to quantitatively characterise the effect of space environment on solid lubricants in tribological systems, using the principle of vibrational tribometry to calculate the coefficient of friction. Using the experience of their endorsing academic Adam Dąbrowski and the results of his PhD thesis they will compare their experimental results to measurements taken in 1g conditions.
The experiment consists of a specially designed vacuum chamber built by the team, with cantilever beams to generate controlled vibrations and vibration sensors inside. The students will use the ZARM Drop Tower and Gravitower Pro in Bremen to perform the experiment in microgravity conditions, thanks to which they hope to learn how lubricants work in space. Just before launching the capsule with the experiment to the top of the tower, the mechanisms of vibration excitation of the beams will be activated. Throughout the duration of the microgravity phase, the sensors will collect data, which will then be used to compare the results of the measurements before and after the application of lubricants in 1g and 0g.
By comparing these data, the team hope to learn new facts about the properties of solid lubricants and their performance in microgravity. The experiment results may reveal important information that could have significant impacts on the development of space mechanisms.
