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Static and dry friction due to multiscale surface roughness
1Physics Department and Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Complex Systems, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics
|October 15, 2008
Summary
Disordered interfaces between elastic solids generally show static and dry friction due to instabilities in small-scale asperities. This explains why superlubricity is rare, while friction is common.
Area of Science:
- Physics
- Materials Science
- Tribology
Background:
- Static and dry friction are commonly observed phenomena in the contact between surfaces.
- Superlubricity, a state of near-zero friction, is rarely observed in experiments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explain the general occurrence of static and dry friction.
- To provide a theoretical basis for the rarity of superlubricity.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing scaling arguments to analyze the behavior of disordered interfaces between elastic solids.
- Investigating instabilities within the Tomlinson model for small-length-scale asperities.
Main Results:
- Disordered elastic interfaces generally exhibit static and dry friction.
- Tomlinson-model instabilities at small length scales are identified as the cause.
Conclusions:
- The presence of small-scale asperities and associated instabilities explains the prevalence of static and dry friction.
- This mechanism offers a reason for the infrequent observation of superlubricity.
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