Introduction

The Sloan Automotive Laboratory at MIT was founded in 1929 by Professor C.F. Taylor, with a grant from Alfred P. Sloan, Jr., CEO of General Motors, as a major laboratory for automotive research in the US and the world.

Today, driven by the mission of making internal combustion engines more sustainable, together with leading industrial partners in the transportation sector, the Sloan Automotive Lab is at the forefront of engine lubrication research for over 35 years combining physics-based modeling, machine learning as well as experimental methods. We:

• Perform experiments to visualize the lubrication oil flow in the piston ring pack using 2D Laser-induced Flourescence and hydrogen floating liner engine
• Implement numerical models and machine learning models to predict lubrication oil consumption and oil transport
• Optimize piston ring pack designs using physics-based models and data-driven approaches to reduce friction wear
• Develop software for lubrication performance prediction
• Define design guidelines to achieve optimal lubrication and sealing performance (“healthy system”)

We solve the toughest and most un-answered problems in engine lubrication with our experimental results and powerful predictive models. If you want to be part of the progress towards a more sustainable future, come collaborate with us!

We also seek to expand our research portfolio to apply our modeling expertise to other interesting areas such as electricity price prediction and Li-batteries. Visit our research page to learn more!

Current and Past Sponsors