IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 306 

Recognizing the impact of tribology on the United States economy and competitiveness in providing solutions to critical technical problems in manufacturing, energy production and use, transportation vehicles and infrastructure, greenhouse gas emissions, defense and homeland security, 

health care, mining safety and reliability, and space exploration, among 

others, and recognizing the need for increased research and development 

investments in tribology and related fields. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 2, 2017 

Mr. RYAN of Ohio (for himself, Mr. LIPINSKI, and Mr. MICHAEL F. DOYLE

of Pennsylvania) submitted the following resolution; which was referred 

to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the impact of tribology on the United States 

economy and competitiveness in providing solutions to 

critical technical problems in manufacturing, energy production and use, transportation vehicles and infrastructure, greenhouse gas emissions, defense and homeland 

security, health care, mining safety and reliability, and 

space exploration, among others, and recognizing the 

need for increased research and development investments 

in tribology and related fields. 

Whereas tribology is a branch of science and engineering encompassing scientific disciplines related to the controlling 


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of friction, reduction of wear loss, and development and 

application of novel lubrication strategies; 

Whereas almost every aspect of our lives is impacted by technologies that benefit from the ability to control friction 

and wear loss; 

Whereas approximately a third of the world’s primary energy 

consumption is attributed to friction, and about 70 percent of equipment failures is blamed on lubrication breakdown and wear loss; 

Whereas loss of energy to friction and material losses due to 

wear in mechanical systems such as internal combustion 

and gas turbine engines account for huge economic and 

environmental burdens; 

Whereas finding ways to minimize friction and wear through 

new technologies in tribology can have an enormous impact on the economy; 

Whereas improving durability of goods and equipment has a 

dramatic impact on reducing our demand for finite resources such as raw materials; 

Whereas proper application of tribology principles reduces energy usage, lowers the cost of maintenance and replacement, and increases reliability; 

Whereas new solid lubricants and biodegradable and synthetic 

lubricants developed from fundamental research are critical to a greener and more sustainable future; 

Whereas improvements in manufacturing productivity and efficiency enabled by reduction of friction and wear loss are 

crucial to our economic competitiveness; 


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Whereas energy conservation and successful generation of 

clean energy, such as with wind turbines, rely on principles of tribology; 

Whereas reduction of friction is at the very core of improving 

fuel economy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions; 

Whereas safety, reliability, and durability of mechanical products and systems have critical implications on our global 

reputation with respect to trade and exported goods; 

Whereas reduction of friction and increasing durability of artificial joints, prosthetics, and implants are crucial to 

maintaining quality of life for veterans and the aging 

population; 

Whereas tribology is used to improve everyday personal care 

products such as toothpaste, skin creams, and hair products; 

Whereas tribology principles are crucial to our national defense and homeland security through the use of lighterweight weapon systems, more efficient and safe operation 

in a wide range of environments, higher reliability, longer 

life, and reduced maintenance; 

Whereas scientific understanding of friction and wear loss improves maintenance and reliability of the Nation’s transportation infrastructure, resulting in a better return on 

public funding and gains in public safety; 

Whereas mining safety and reliability and durability of mining equipment can be improved through proper use of 

tribology; 

Whereas reliability, function, and durability of outer space 

mechanisms and rockets are essential for future space 

missions; and 


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Whereas the enormous potential of tribology in solving global 

challenges is hampered by limited investments in research, thus limiting innovations in new materials and lubrication technologies: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes the impact of tribology on the 

3 United States economy and competitiveness; 

4 (2) recognizes the importance of tribology in 

5 providing solutions to critical technical problems in 

6 manufacturing, energy production and use, transpor7 tation vehicles and infrastructure, greenhouse gas 

8 emissions, defense and homeland security, health 

9 care, mining safety and reliability, and space explo10 ration, among other sectors; 

11 (3) encourages Federal agencies to develop and 

12 implement programs and projects related to 

13 tribology; 

14 (4) encourages the formation of public-private 

15 partnerships to advance fundamental research and 

16 accelerate the development of tribology-related prod17 ucts and technologies; 

18 (5) recognizes the need for increased research 

19 and development investments in tribology and re20 lated fields; and 

21 (6) encourages the National Academy of Engi22 neering to conduct a comprehensive survey of the 


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1 status of research and development in academia and 

2 government laboratories and recommend a course of 

3 action to accelerate innovations in tribology. 

Æ 


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