Modeling in tribology: Recent advances, applications, and open questions

Lars Pastewka; Antonis I. Vakis; Ramin Aghababaei; Andreas Almqvist; Giuseppe Carbone; Michael Chandross; Daniele Dini; Stefan J. Eder; Hendrik J. Ehrich; James P. Ewen; Nicola Menga; Jean-François Molinari; Gianpietro Moras; Lucia Nicola; Marco Paggi; Carmine Putignano; Michele Scaraggi; Vladislav A. Yastrebov; Martin H. Müser

doi:10.1016/j.triboint.2025.111326

Modeling in tribology: Recent advances, applications, and open questions

Lars Pastewka
, Antonis I. Vakis
, Ramin Aghababaei
, Andreas Almqvist
, Giuseppe Carbone
, Michael Chandross
, Daniele Dini
, Stefan J. Eder
, Hendrik J. Ehrich
, James P. Ewen
, Nicola Menga
, Jean-François Molinari
, Gianpietro Moras
, Lucia Nicola
, Marco Paggi
, Carmine Putignano
, Michele Scaraggi
, Vladislav A. Yastrebov
, Martin H. Müser

University of Freiburg
University of Groningen
Aarhus University
Luleå tekniska universitet
CNR Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnologies U.O.S. Bari
Sandia National Laboratories, New Mexico
Imperial College London
AC2T research GmbH
Politecnico di Bari
Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials IWM
Università di Padova
IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca
University of Salento
Université PSL
Universität des Saarlandes

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

14 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

Recent advances in modeling have enhanced our ability to make quantitative predictions for tribological phenomena, thereby unraveling relevant mechanisms. Algorithmic innovations, including those based on multiscale methods and machine learning, have been especially impactful, for example in overcoming long-standing bottlenecks that hinder simulations of systems with strong coupling across disparate scales. However, traditional modeling approaches, such as boundary-element techniques, have also progressed and continue to yield new insights. This article reviews developments from the past decade, examining how both new and established methods have deepened our understanding of experimental results and have furthered theoretical approaches in key tribological areas, including contact mechanics, lubrication, metal friction, and tribo-chemistry. Selected applications, such as tunable interfaces and energy harvesting, illustrate the broad influence of recent developments on the field.

Original language	English
Article number	111326
Journal	Tribology International
Early online date	30 Oct 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.triboint.2025.111326 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.triboint.2025.111326
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 30 Oct 2025

Data Availability Statement

No data was used for the research described in the article.

Acknowledgements

Any subjective views or opinions that might be expressed in the paper do not necessarily represent the views of the US Department of Energy or the USA Government. Open access funding was provided by TU Wien.

Funding

S.J.E. and H.J.E. acknowledge Project K2 InTribology2, no. 906860 of theAustrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG). D.D. acknowledges the support received from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, United Kingdom (EPSRC) via EP/V038044/1 and EP/N025954/1, as well as the support provided from the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) Research Chair in Complex Engineering Interfaces (RCSRF2122-14-143). J.P.E. thanks the RAEng for support via their Research Fellowships scheme. Sandia National Laboratories is a multi-mission laboratory managed and operated by National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC., a wholly owned subsidiary of Honeywell International, Inc., for the US Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-NA0003525.

Keywords

Modeling
Tribology

Access to Document

10.1016/j.triboint.2025.111326Licence: CC BY
10.1016/j.triboint.2025.111326Licence: CC BY

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301679X25008217Licence: CC BY

Cite this

Pastewka, L., Vakis, A. I., Aghababaei, R., Almqvist, A., Carbone, G., Chandross, M., Dini, D., Eder, S. J., Ehrich, H. J., Ewen, J. P., Menga, N., Molinari, J.-F., Moras, G., Nicola, L., Paggi, M., Putignano, C., Scaraggi, M., Yastrebov, V. A., & Müser, M. H. (2025). Modeling in tribology: Recent advances, applications, and open questions. Tribology International, Article 111326. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.triboint.2025.111326, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.triboint.2025.111326

Pastewka, L, Vakis, AI, Aghababaei, R, Almqvist, A, Carbone, G, Chandross, M, Dini, D, Eder, SJ, Ehrich, HJ, Ewen, JP, Menga, N, Molinari, J-F, Moras, G, Nicola, L, Paggi, M, Putignano, C, Scaraggi, M, Yastrebov, VA & Müser, MH 2025, 'Modeling in tribology: Recent advances, applications, and open questions', Tribology International. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.triboint.2025.111326, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.triboint.2025.111326

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abstract = "Recent advances in modeling have enhanced our ability to make quantitative predictions for tribological phenomena, thereby unraveling relevant mechanisms. Algorithmic innovations, including those based on multiscale methods and machine learning, have been especially impactful, for example in overcoming long-standing bottlenecks that hinder simulations of systems with strong coupling across disparate scales. However, traditional modeling approaches, such as boundary-element techniques, have also progressed and continue to yield new insights. This article reviews developments from the past decade, examining how both new and established methods have deepened our understanding of experimental results and have furthered theoretical approaches in key tribological areas, including contact mechanics, lubrication, metal friction, and tribo-chemistry. Selected applications, such as tunable interfaces and energy harvesting, illustrate the broad influence of recent developments on the field.",

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AU - Carbone, Giuseppe

AU - Chandross, Michael

AU - Dini, Daniele

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AU - Ehrich, Hendrik J.

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AU - Menga, Nicola

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AU - Moras, Gianpietro

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AU - Paggi, Marco

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AB - Recent advances in modeling have enhanced our ability to make quantitative predictions for tribological phenomena, thereby unraveling relevant mechanisms. Algorithmic innovations, including those based on multiscale methods and machine learning, have been especially impactful, for example in overcoming long-standing bottlenecks that hinder simulations of systems with strong coupling across disparate scales. However, traditional modeling approaches, such as boundary-element techniques, have also progressed and continue to yield new insights. This article reviews developments from the past decade, examining how both new and established methods have deepened our understanding of experimental results and have furthered theoretical approaches in key tribological areas, including contact mechanics, lubrication, metal friction, and tribo-chemistry. Selected applications, such as tunable interfaces and energy harvesting, illustrate the broad influence of recent developments on the field.

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KW - Tribology

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SN - 0301-679X

JO - Tribology International

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M1 - 111326

ER -

Modeling in tribology: Recent advances, applications, and open questions

Abstract

Data Availability Statement

Acknowledgements

Funding

Keywords

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