CEEPUS Tribology BG 0703

Short description, research and educational contributions

Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the Technical University Sofia, branch Plovdiv educates students in six subjects in all three levels of education. For the 2011/12 academic year, teaching 590 students in the Bachelor studies, 133 students in the Master studies, and 15 doctoral studies. The structure of the faculty includes six departments with more than 50 research and teaching laboratories. The excellent scientific and language training enables the students from the Faculty to carry out their practice and graduate projects in European Universities and international Industrial companies. Department of Mechanical Equipment and Technologies educates students in the course “Mechanical Equipment and Technologies” with two modules: "Technology of Machine Tools and Manufacturing" and "Material science and technology of metals." The teaching staff consists of 18 members: 2 professors, 4 associate professors, 1 D.Sc. and 7 doctors. 15 laboratories are equipped with modern machinery and equipment. The number of the students for the academic year 2011/12 is: 120 students at Bachelor study, 27 - in Master study, 6 – Doctoral study. The practical placements of students are carried out at the University of Stuttgart, Germany, on a contractual basis.

One of the main scientific directions of the department is “Tribology in Machine Engineering”, as the relevant activities are in accordance with the topics of current project. The contribution to the project will be in the following scientific and educational areas:

• Research and modeling of friction in machine tools guides – new theoretical models with its experimental evidence;

• Research and modeling of the wear in tribosystems – at various coatings on the contact surfaces;

• Methods and tools for reducing the friction and wear of friction surfaces;

• Improving the static and dynamic behavior of the machine tools.