TS ISO 4378-1

TS ISO 4378-1 is a terminology standard for plain bearings, focused on the terms, definitions, classification and symbols used for design, bearing materials and their properties. It provides a common technical language for describing plain-bearing concepts so that design work, material selection and documentation can be handled consistently.

Why design and material terminology matters

Plain bearings support relative motion between machine parts, typically through sliding contact rather than rolling elements. In this context, design terms describe the bearing geometry, load-carrying arrangement and operating conditions, while material terms describe properties such as friction behaviour, wear resistance, compatibility and deformation under load. In terminology standards, this distinction matters because the same word can be used differently across industries, whereas technical communication needs stable definitions.

Classification, symbols and short forms

The document covers the most commonly used terms and their classification. It also states that short forms are provided for some terms and word combinations, and that these may be used where they are unambiguous. In general technical practice, classification helps organise bearing types or material groups in a consistent way, while symbols support uniform expression across drawings, specifications and multilingual documentation.

• Subject: plain-bearing design, bearing materials and their properties
• Coverage: commonly used terms, definitions and classifications
• Document features: terminology, short forms and symbols
• Purpose: a consistent technical vocabulary for engineering communication