Surface topography defines the geometry of contact between two bodies that are loaded against one another. Due to the multiscale nature of surface features, relating surface performance to metrics of surface topography remains a challenge. While modern profilometers are collectively able to characterize surface features from macroscopic down to nanoscopic scales, it is still no easy task to use such data in the context of mechanics theories to predict the behavior of contacting bodies. This difficulty is due in part to influence of length scale on material properties near the interface. Nevertheless, as computation power continues to grow in conjunction with more efficient algorithms and more realistic physical models, there is increasing opportunity to develop higher fidelity simulations of contact and sliding.
The goal of the Research Topic is to gain insight as to the way that contacting and/or sliding bodies engage and perhaps to advance the ability to predict surface performance metrics, such as friction and wear from knowledge of relevant measures of surface roughness. Because surface features, i.e., deviations from perfect smoothness, persist down to the atomic level, incorporation all geometric aspects of the interface into mechanics-based simulations places prohibitive generally places prohibitive demands on computational resources. Typically only microscopically sized systems can be modelled at such high spatial resolutions and simulation times for such systems are usually much less than a microsecond. By comparison, most engineering components are characterized by length and time scales that are several orders of magnitude greater. Hence, there is a need to develop theories and experiments that are able to better describe contact and sliding over many length and time scales.
We solicit both theoretical and experimental investigations that seek to elucidate the role of surface roughness in contact and friction. Authors are encouraged to provide all pertinent details as it relates to the characterization of the surface topography. Information such as the type of instrument used, the horizontal sampling resolution, the scan length as well as how the measured topographical data have been processed, should be included to assist the reader in properly interpreting the results. Additionally, authors should include provide details as it relates to material composition along with the methods of surface preparation. On the theory side, authors are encouraged to provide detailed descriptions of the assumptions underlying their computations. In particular, authors should indicate the nature of the algorithms used to develop their simulated surface topography. Major themes of interest include, but are not limited to:
-Characterizations of surface topography
-Influence of roughness on contact and friction
-Varying surface properties at different scales
Surface topography defines the geometry of contact between two bodies that are loaded against one another. Due to the multiscale nature of surface features, relating surface performance to metrics of surface topography remains a challenge. While modern profilometers are collectively able to characterize surface features from macroscopic down to nanoscopic scales, it is still no easy task to use such data in the context of mechanics theories to predict the behavior of contacting bodies. This difficulty is due in part to influence of length scale on material properties near the interface. Nevertheless, as computation power continues to grow in conjunction with more efficient algorithms and more realistic physical models, there is increasing opportunity to develop higher fidelity simulations of contact and sliding.
The goal of the Research Topic is to gain insight as to the way that contacting and/or sliding bodies engage and perhaps to advance the ability to predict surface performance metrics, such as friction and wear from knowledge of relevant measures of surface roughness. Because surface features, i.e., deviations from perfect smoothness, persist down to the atomic level, incorporation all geometric aspects of the interface into mechanics-based simulations places prohibitive generally places prohibitive demands on computational resources. Typically only microscopically sized systems can be modelled at such high spatial resolutions and simulation times for such systems are usually much less than a microsecond. By comparison, most engineering components are characterized by length and time scales that are several orders of magnitude greater. Hence, there is a need to develop theories and experiments that are able to better describe contact and sliding over many length and time scales.
We solicit both theoretical and experimental investigations that seek to elucidate the role of surface roughness in contact and friction. Authors are encouraged to provide all pertinent details as it relates to the characterization of the surface topography. Information such as the type of instrument used, the horizontal sampling resolution, the scan length as well as how the measured topographical data have been processed, should be included to assist the reader in properly interpreting the results. Additionally, authors should include provide details as it relates to material composition along with the methods of surface preparation. On the theory side, authors are encouraged to provide detailed descriptions of the assumptions underlying their computations. In particular, authors should indicate the nature of the algorithms used to develop their simulated surface topography. Major themes of interest include, but are not limited to:
-Characterizations of surface topography
-Influence of roughness on contact and friction
-Varying surface properties at different scales
