Critical length scale controls adhesive wear mechanisms

• DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11816
• Publication Date: 2016-06-06T09:55:20Z
• Authors: Ramin Aghababaei; Derek H. Warner; Jean-Francois Mol...
• Keywords: 0203 mechanical engineering; Science; Q; 02 engineering and technology; 0210 nano-technology; Article

Abstract The adhesive wear process remains one of the least understood areas mechanics. While it has long been established that is a direct result contacting surface asperities, an agreed upon understanding how asperities lead to debris particle remained elusive. This restricted prediction empirical models with limited transferability. Here we show discrepant observations and predictions two distinct mechanisms can be reconciled into unified framework. Using atomistic simulations model interatomic potentials, reveal transition in asperity mechanism when contact junctions fall below critical length scale. A simple analytic formulated predict both simulation results experiments. new may help expand use computer modelling explore processes advance physics-based laws without coefficients.