Nan Xu
- Position: Research Fellow
- Areas of expertise: cryogenic machining technology; wear and friction control; lubricant design and development; condition monitoring of key machine components.
- Email: N.Xu@leeds.ac.uk
- Location: Room 442B
- Website: LinkedIn | Researchgate
Profile
I am a Research Fellow in the School of Mechanical Engineering. My research work lies in the realm of tribology and surface engineering, focusing on the design of smart and sustainable tribo-system for applications in engineering fields such as manufacturing, transportation, and wind turbine technology. My work bridges the gap between advanced material science and practical engineering applications, aiming to revolutionise online condition monitoring techniques and lubrication systems for enhanced durability and efficiency of key mechanical components.
Research interests
• Embedded sensing techniques for online condition monitoring.
• Sustainable machining technology (cryogenic cooling and minimum quantity lubrication)
• Long-life Lubricant design for key machine components (bearing, gear, cutting tool)
• Friction and wear control
Research project
In-situ identification strategy for additive-derived tribofilms on coating surfaces, TTRF research grant. PI. £25k
Manufacturing the Future with Supercritical CO2 and Minimum Quantity Lubrication, EPSRC standard research grant. Key researcher. £750k
Qualifications
- PhD, School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Leeds
Professional memberships
- Member of Institution of Mechanical Engineers
- Member of the Bragg Centre for Materials Research
- Chartered Engineer of Institution of Mechanical Engineers
- Associate Fellow of Higher Education Academy (AFHEA)
Student education
I regularly supervise individual projects for undergraduate and postgraduate students, while also contributing to course design and delivery to enhance learning outcomes.