Over the past two decades, there has been a demanding and growing request for redesigning mechanical systems and applications in a more efficient, more durable, and more environmentally friendly way. Given its importance in fundamental fields, like oil & gas, aeronautical propulsion, transport engineering, a crucial area is related to turbomachinery and, thus, to the development and optimization of rotating machines. In this context, a decisive role is played by the oil-filled fluid dynamic bearings that support the machine and deeply influence its efficiency. Unfortunately, these bearings are currently marked by poor performances in terms of friction, wear and thermal resistance, and durability.   
The SuperPolB project will address these issues by developing high efficiency fluid dynamic journal bearings: these will feature polymer coatings with an innovative surface micro-texture designed to optimize the tribological performance of the bearing. The very ambitious goal of the project will be pursued through the unique combination of numerical and experimental techniques guaranteed by the research consortium including Politechnic University of Bari (PoliBA) and University of Florence (UniFI). The Principal investigator of SuperPolB is Prof. Carmine Putignano (PoliBA), while the research unit leader at UnifI is Prof. Enrico Meli.