PhD student wins tribology award for sound-wave bearing breakthrough

Jaden Davies, a PhD researcher at the University of Sheffield’s Leonardo Centre for Tribology, has won the 2026 Institute of Physics (IOP) Innovation in Tribology award for developing a non-invasive ultrasonic technique that looks inside running, unmodified machine bearings. 

Traditionally, engineers had to cut open or alter bearings to measure the microscopic layer of oil or grease protecting them, or use sensors that could only examine one small area at a time. Jaden’s breakthrough uses a single stationary sensor to act like a medical ultrasound scanner, capturing the complete lubrication profile, including the oil leading into the contact point and the film thickness directly under the roller, across a single pass without taking the machine apart. 

In tests on standard industrial bearings, his method confirmed how the protective oil layer expands as speed changes, while exposing a previously invisible issue called "lubricant starvation," where the incoming oil supply suddenly halves at certain speeds. 

Sponsored by The Timken Company, Jaden’s project is enabling industry partners to validate models of rolling bearing starvation and cage slip in ways that have not previously been possible. This technology offers a practical way to monitor critical machinery, like electric vehicle motors and wind turbines, and prevent catastrophic failures before they happen. 

Jaden said: “I'm thrilled to receive this award from the IOP. It tells me that measuring what happens inside a running bearing is something that the wider tribology community values. This technique allows us to see the whole lubricant film and cage slip from a single sensor, catching problems like grease starvation before they cause failure, which is crucial for wind-turbine reliability. Applying ultrasound measurement to industrial problems with partners like SKF, Caterpillar, and Timken has been a highlight of my PhD. 

“The invited talk at the IOP Winter Tribology Fair next year will be a great opportunity to share this work with academics and industry and I hope it helps build new collaborations as the research moves out of the lab and into real machines. I'm also very grateful to my supervisors Prof. Rob Dwyer-Joyce and Dr. Thawhid Khan, Timken and the Leonardo Centre of Tribology, who made it possible."

Dr Thawhid Khan, Lecturer of Tribology and Surface Engineering, said: “This is a well-deserved award for Jaden. During his PhD, he has excelled in many areas and played a key role in securing a $100,000 research grant from the National Lubricating Grease Institute (NLGI). His research and innovation were instrumental in making that happen.

“The IOP Tribology Group award is self-nominated, so we strongly encourage other PhD students in this field to consider submitting their own work in the future.”