Velocity-dependent threshold phenomenon predicted by nonequilibrium molecular dynamics study on wearless nanofriction

ABSTRACT

Wearless nanofriction between nonmetallic solids is investigated in terms of molecular dynamics. Sliding-velocity dependence of the frictional force density is characterised by the threshold phenomenon. Universal features of the ensemble-averaged threshold behaviour under the steady condition have become clearer through the following effort. An enormous number of simulation runs and frequent validation of their results were carried out so that the interfacial temperature and the pressure, which directly affect the heat generation processes, were made common at different sliding velocities. The energy dissipation mechanism underlying these universal features is discussed with an emphasis on the constraint on wearless-nanofrictional characteristics due to the spatial translational symmetry of the interfacial atomic configuration along the sliding direction.

KEYWORDS:

• Nanofriction
• molecular dynamics
• phonon-band engineering
• nanoelectromechanical system
• complex system

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research Number JP15K13419.