Application of a neural network model in estimation of frictional features of tribofilms derived from multiple lubricant additives

Abstract

In the field of tribology, many studies now use machine learning (ML). However, ML models have not yet been used to evaluate the relationship between the friction coefficient and the elemental distribution of a tribofilm formed from multiple lubricant additives. This study proposed the possibility of using ML to evaluate that relationship. Friction tests revealed that, calcium tribofilms formed on the friction surface, with the friction coefficient increasing as a result of the addition of OBCS. Therefore, we investigated whether the convolutional neural network (CNN) model could recognize the tribofilms formed from OBCS and classify image data of the elemental distributions of these tribofilms into high and low friction-coefficient groups. The CNN model classifies only output values, and it’s difficult to see how the model has learned. Gradient-weighted class activation mapping (Grad-CAM) was performed using a CNN-based model, and this allowed the visualization of the areas important for classifying elemental distributions into friction coefficient groups. Furthermore, dimension reductions enabled the visualization of these distributions for classification into the groups. The results of this study suggested that the CNN model, the Grad-CAM, and the dimension reductions are useful for evaluating frictional features of tribofilms formed from multiple lubricant additives.