SMOOTH SLIDING

An engineering consulting company providing services in engine bearing related issues

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About Us


Who We Are

Smooth Sliding is an engineering consulting company run by Dr. Dmitri Kopeliovich - VP R&D of King Engine Bearings and the founder of SubsTech (Substances & Technologies) – leading professional web site on Materials Science and Engineering. Dr. Dmitri Kopeliovich is an author of numerous scientific and engineering publications and patents.

What We Do

Smooth Sliding provides independent engineering consulting services that help you to solve sliding/plain bearing (eg. engine bearing) related issues: failures, material selection, geometry design and optimization of hydrodynamic conditions.

Why Choose Us

Dr. Dmitri Kopeliovich is the world leading expert having 30 years of experience in design, technology and materials for sliding bearings in applications such as automotive, energy, aviation, racing, industrial, heavy duty and others.

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Our Services

Failure Analysis

Analysis of a bearing failure is a professional work employing great care and thoroughness. It is based on detailed observation of the failed bearing in combination of metallurgical investigation and in-depth consideration of the circumstances of the bearing work, such as loading, conditions and geometry of the journal and functioning of the lubrication system.

Investigation of Bearing Metallurgy

Sliding/Plain bearings (including engine bearings) are made of composite materials. They often have multilayer structure comprising different metallic and non-metallic materials. The composition of each layer, its mechanical properties, adhesion to the adjacent layers and the micro-structure are specified for every bearing type. Complex metallurgical investigations of the bearing materials include optical microscope examination, hardness measurement, spectral and chemical analysis, electron microscope research and adhesion tests.

Selection of Optimal Bearing Material

Engine bearings (and some other sliding bearings) work under conditions of alternating loads, various rotation speeds, and intermittent metal-to-metal contacts with the journals and in the presence of impurities transported in the oil. Selection of the optimal material for a particular bearing is determined by the operation conditions including maximum load, rotation speed, thickness of oil film, the engine type (diesel, gasoline), the bearing location (connecting rod, main or camshaft), its position (upper or lower).

Analysis of Bearing Geometry

Geometry of a sliding bearing should provide optimal hydrodynamic conditions of the bearing friction, distribution of the load over the bearing surface and firm tightening in the housing. The geometry parameters such as clearance, eccentricity, crush height, oil groove and oil hole dimensions, crush relief, location lug design are analyzed and optimized.

Theoretical Calculations of Hydrodynamic Lubrication

The hydrodynamic conditions of bearing operation can be calculated theoretically. Such calculations are used for simulation of bearing performance under various conditions. Calculating the thermodynamic, dynamic, hydrodynamic and mechanical parameters of bearing operation result in values of maximum loads, minimum oil film thickness, oil temperature rise, power loss. When a bearing is being designed, theoretical simulation of hydrodynamic lubrication is performed to optimize bearing operation.

Development of Sliding Bearings

Bearing development is a complex work comprising theoretical calculations of thermodynamic, dynamic and hydrodynamic characteristics of the engine, selection of optimal bearing material or development of a new material, comprehensive metallurgical investigations, functioning tests of the prototype bearings and determination of technological processes for the bearings fabrication.

Training courses

Smooth Sliding offers training courses and seminars for engineers, mechanics, sales managers and other professionals dealing with engine bearings. The courses/seminars are conducted by Dr. Dmitri Kopeliovich in form of intensive interactive training including examination of samples of actual engine bearings of different design, materials application and analyses of typical bearing failures. The courses provide the participants with advanced principal and practical knowledge in all aspects of engine bearing operation. Courses:
1. Engine Bearings – principles of operation, design, materials, tests, failure analyses and investigations

2. Hydrodynamic Bearings (Theory and Practice)
Upon course completion, participants will be awarded Course Completion Certificates issued by SmoothSliding and signed by Dr. Dmitri Kopeliovich.
Courses may be held at the customer's facilities, at Smooth Sliding or online. Number of participants is not limited.

Our articles

Dr. Dmitri Kopeliovich


VP R&D at King Engine Bearings.

World leading expert (30 years of experience) in design, technology and materials for sliding bearings in applications such as automotive, energy, aviation, racing, industrial heavy duty, and others.

Founder and owner of SubsTech (Substances & Technologies) – a leading professional website on Materials Science and Engineering.

Author of numerous scientific and engineering publications and patents.

Founder and owner of Smooth Sliding - an engineering consulting company providing services that help to solve sliding bearing related issues.

Development of Sliding Bearings

Investigation of Engine Bearings

  • Metallurgical examinations (optical microscope, electron microscope, hardness tests)
  • Tribology tests of anti-friction materials
  • Failure analysis
  • Adhesion tests
  • Thermodynamic, dynamic and hydrodynamic calculations
  • Fatigue tests
  • Engine dynamometer tests

Development of technological processes for engine bearings manufacturing

  • Continuous casting of non-ferrous alloys
  • Sintering of copper and ferrous alloys
  • Thermal treatment of aluminum and ferrous alloys
  • Plastic deformation (rolling, stamping)
  • Electroplating (tin alloys, lead alloys, nickel, chrome, silver alloys)
  • Polymer coating
  • Physical Vapor Deposition of anti-friction coatings
  • Surface preparation, treatment and adhesion enhancement
  • Metal matrix composites
  • Polymer matrix composites

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