Summary

The lab is studying the mechanisms of deformation, wear and fatigue in contacting surfaces under loading conditions representative of automotive components.  The long-term goal of this work is to help General Motors to develop engineered surfaces with improved wear and fatigue resistance.

Projects include (i) studies of deformation in nano-scale asperities and surface steps and  under contact loading; (ii) investigations of  of the contact between random rough surfaces; and (iii) development and application of constitutive laws to describe friction between sliding surfaces.   

Nano-scale deformation of surfaces under contact loading

Friction and wear are ultimately governed by atomic-scale asperity contacts between surfaces.  The lab is using atomic-force microscopy and molecular dynamic simulations to study adhesion and deformation of nano-scale surface features under contact loading.
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Contact between rough surfaces

Surface roughness, and its evolution under contact loading, play a central role in determining the strength of surfaces in rolling or sliding contact.  The lab is studying deformation and damage induced by contact between rough surfaces both experimentally and using numerical simulations. 
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Constitutive models for sliding friction

Accurate friction laws are needed for numerical simulations of metal forming processes.   This project is developing numerical techniques to implement  rate-and state- dependent friction laws in finite element simulations, and studying their effects on the stability of sliding between contacting surfaces.
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