In recent years several high profile projects have questioned the repeatability and validity of scientific research in the fields of psychology and medicine. In general, these studies have shown or estimated that less than 50% of published research findings are true or replicable even when no breaches of ethics are made. This high percentage stems from widespread poor study design; either through the use of underpowered studies or designs that allow the introduction of bias into the results. In this work, we have aimed to assess, for the first time, the prevalence of good study design in the field of tribology. A set of simple criteria for factors such as randomisation, blinding, use of control and repeated tests has been made. These criteria have been used in a mass review of the output of five

The pseudoelasticity (PE) and shape memory effect (SME) are the two main behaviors presented by the shape memory alloys (SMA's) and are associated respectively to mechanical and thermally induced martensitic transformations. The aim of this work is to investigate the effects of heat treatment temperature on the microstructure properties and phase transformation temperatures of a NiTi alloy with 57 w.t. % Ni. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) was carried out to obtain the phases present. The phase transformation temperatures were measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The alloy chemical composition and hardness were obtained by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), hardness (HRC) and microhardness (HV) tests, respectively. The analysis were performed in the state as received and after aging treatment at different temperatures between 350 °C and 600°C. The samples as received contained a fully austenitic microstructure at room temperature and the DSC analysis showed the presence of a phase transformation in multiple steps (B19'-R-B2). After aging at 350 °C the R phase was observed at room temperature with the austenite. With the aging treatment at 600 °C the R phase was solubilized and the alloy phase transformation occurred in a single step, ie, direct transformation from austenite to martensite and vice versa. The transformation temperatures Af, As, Ms and Mf changed with the aging treatment temperatures.

Risers are multilayer structures used in oil production and transportation. The pressure armor is the layer responsible for supporting the internal radial pressure and is produced from a helical interlocked steel wire. The interlocking mechanism, which gives flexibility to the riser, is responsible for the wear on the pressure armor, resulting in a micro-abrasive wear. The present work aims to study the effect of deep cryogenic treatment and plasma nitriding on the micro-abrasive wear in the pressure armor. Samples tested were taken from the contact region of the pressure armor. The micro-abrasive wear test was performed on a free ball machine. The tests were conducted on the samples as received, with deep cryogenic treatment and with plasma nitriding (at 515°C for 8, 24 and 48 h). It was observed that the material with deep cryogenic treatment had a Vickers microhardness profile and wear coefficient similar to the sample as received. The nitrided samples showed a higher (21.8%, 23.2% and 29%) microhardness value at the surface region than the sample as received and an improvement in wear coefficient in the transient (29.85%, 28.53% and 29.81%) and permanent (19.18%, 25.19% and 28.09%) regions.

The Nickel Titanium (NiTi) alloy is a shape memory alloy. It presents two distinct properties: shape memory effect (martensite phase at room temperature) and the pseudoelasticity (austenite phase at room temperature). These materials are frequently used in industries like engineering, dentistry, medicine and aeronautics, and for certain applications it is important to know the wear behavior of these alloys.Thus, this study aims to evaluate the micro-abrasive wear behavior of pseudoelastic NiTi alloys at the as received and aged conditions, and compare with results obtained for NiTi alloy with shape memory effect. The aging heat treatment was performed at temperatures of 350, 450, 500 and 600 °C with an isotherm of 30 minutes and subsequent quenching in water. The wear tests were carried out in a free ball machine. After wear testing was observed that the wear coefficient obtained were lower for all treatment temperatures when compared to pseudoelastic NiTi alloy as received, reducing wear by 30 % in case of treatment at 350 °C. The alloy with shape memory effect showed good wear behavior, with a wear coefficient about 14 % less than the untreated pseudoelastic NiTi alloy.