6. Experimental characterization

The description of tribological behavior in the presence of the mixed lubrication regime relies, as in other areas of tribology, on the quantification of parameters such as the friction coefficient and the wear coefficient. These have already been discussed in detail in subsection 2 on phenomenological analysis.

The total determination of these parameters (friction and wear in the mixed or limit regime) is extremely delicate, as they are linked to a very large number of aspects (chemical, physical and mechanical). One of the most reliable ways of determining these various elements is to use specific test methods and protocols, which will be described in detail in this section.