Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Research Group Leader | Mechanical Engineer | R&D | Tribology | Hydraulics I am working on the tribological behavior of hydraulic drive components – focusing on polymers, alternative materials, surface interactions, and lubricants. By combining multi-scale simulation with experimental testing, I aim to improve the performance, efficiency, and lifetime of hydraulic systems in a sustainable way. As research group leader, I am responsible for strategic direction, project acquisition and management, budget oversight, as well as leading my team, and collaborating with industrial and academic partners. Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=de&user=IFXX8GcAAAAJ Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Felix-Schlegel-3
Leader of the Tribology Research Group, which focuses on the behavior of tribological systems in hydraulic and pneumatic applications. Our work spans multiple scales: from fundamental friction and wear studies on tribometers, to component-level testing, and the investigation of complex systems under realistic operating conditions. Alongside experimental work, we develop and validate analytical and simulation-based models to explain and predict the underlying physical mechanisms in complex multi-body tribosystems. Our key expertise lies in combining CFD-based flow analysis with FEM deformation modeling, contact mechanics, and multi-body dynamics to enable elastohydrodynamic (EHL) calculations of lubrication conditions, friction, and wear. In my role as group leader, I am responsible for the scientific strategy, the guidance and development of team members, and the coordination of research activities. I also manage collaborations with industrial partners, including project acquisition, planning, budgeting, and execution.
Work on a range of research and industry-related projects, teaching activities in the field of servohydraulics (controlled hydraulic drives), supervision of thesis students and student assistants, proposal writing for new research projects, and maintenance and further development of the institute’s measurement infrastructure. My PhD project focused on developing an elastohydrodynamic (EHD) simulation for polymer sliding contacts in hydraulic pumps. The work combines advanced material models for time-dependent, nonlinear deformation of polymers with a flow-field solution of the lubricating gap that accounts for mixed lubrication, micro-hydrodynamics, and cavitation. To validate the simulation results, I designed and built both a hydraulic test rig for isolated contact characterization and a full-scale pump test bench to evaluate the performance of EHL-optimized polymer contacts under realistic operating conditions. Additional projects included: • Data acquisition in the drivetrain of mobile machinery to generate 3D terrain models • Planning and organization of the 15th International Fluid Power Conference (IFK), including program development, paper and review coordination, session planning, and preparation of the conference proceedings
I supported the conception and design of test rigs for hydraulic and pneumatic valves. Tasks included mechanical design, part manufacturing and assembly, with a primary focus on setting up measurement electronics, programming data acquisition systems, and performing calibration. Additionally, I contributed to the development of an automated mini excavator, including the design, commissioning and implementation of the sensor network and data bus system.
I assisted in the setup, commissioning, and data evaluation of a test rig for investigating roller bearing ring creep in wind turbine planetary gearboxes. My primary responsibilities included building the measurement electronics, implementing and commissioning the data acquisition system, and processing and analyzing the measurement data.