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Updated: Jun 14, 2026

A Method for Studying the Temperature Dependence of Dynamic Fracture and Fragmentation
Published on: June 28, 2015
Multibond dynamics of nanoscale friction: the role of temperature
Itay Barel1, Michael Urbakh, Lars Jansen
1School of Chemistry, Tel Aviv University, 69978 Tel Aviv, Israel.
Abstract:
The main challenge in predicting sliding friction is related to the complexity of highly nonequilibrium processes, the kinetics of which are controlled by the interface temperature. Our experiments reveal a nonmonotonic enhancement of dry nanoscale friction at cryogenic temperatures for different material classes. Concerted simulations show that it emerges from two competing processes acting at the interface: the thermally activated formation as well as rupturing of an ensemble of atomic contacts. These results provide a new conceptual framework to describe the dynamics of dry friction.
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