Tribology and Materials | Volume 4 | Issue 4 | 2025 | 220-232
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https://doi.org/10.46793/tribomat.2025.020
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A TOPSIS multi-criteria evaluation of greases for wind turbine rolling bearings
Michal Okal
,
Michal Prochazka,
Petr Svoboda
,
Ivan Křupka,
Martin Hartl
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Brno University of Technology, Brno, Czechia
Abstract: This work focuses on the use of the TOPSIS (technique
for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution) multi-criteria
evaluation methodology to assess the performance of greases intended for
the main bearings of wind turbines. The goal was to design a testing
system that enables a comprehensive evaluation of grease performance
across key functional areas. The methodology evaluated four performance
aspects: lubricating film formation, oil separation (grease bleeding),
wear protection and frictional behaviour. Each test was designed with
respect to the operating conditions of the main bearings and was
experimentally validated. The results revealed differences in grease
performance across the tests and confirmed the influence of varying test
conditions. The collected data were analysed using the TOPSIS
multi-criteria decision-making method, which enabled the integration of
individual test results into a single comparative indicator. The method
proved capable of comparing greases while maintaining result stability
under varying weightings and input data. The final methodology provides
a detailed framework for experimental testing and comprehensive
performance evaluation of greases, offering a robust tool for their
mutual comparison.
Keywords: grease lubrication, rolling bearing, multi-criteria evaluation, TOPSIS method.
Received: 12-08-2025, Revised: 31-10-2025, Accepted: 04-12-2025
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which allows users to distribute, remix, adapt,
and build upon the material in any medium or format for non-commercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
Abstract: This work focuses on the use of the TOPSIS (technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution) multi-criteria evaluation methodology to assess the performance of greases intended for the main bearings of wind turbines. The goal was to design a testing system that enables a comprehensive evaluation of grease performance across key functional areas. The methodology evaluated four performance aspects: lubricating film formation, oil separation (grease bleeding), wear protection and frictional behaviour. Each test was designed with respect to the operating conditions of the main bearings and was experimentally validated. The results revealed differences in grease performance across the tests and confirmed the influence of varying test conditions. The collected data were analysed using the TOPSIS multi-criteria decision-making method, which enabled the integration of individual test results into a single comparative indicator. The method proved capable of comparing greases while maintaining result stability under varying weightings and input data. The final methodology provides a detailed framework for experimental testing and comprehensive performance evaluation of greases, offering a robust tool for their mutual comparison.
Keywords: grease lubrication, rolling bearing, multi-criteria evaluation, TOPSIS method.
Received: 12-08-2025, Revised: 31-10-2025, Accepted: 04-12-2025
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which allows users to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for non-commercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.