Open AccessNanoscale Reciprocating Sliding Contact Behaviors of an Isosceles Trapezoid Textured Surface in Space Environment
Author(s) -
Ruiting Tong,
Ze-fen Quan,
Geng Liu
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
current mechanics and advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2666-1853
pISSN - 2666-1845
DOI - 10.2174/2666184501999201204152001
Subject(s) - reciprocating motion , materials science , isosceles triangle , vibration , adhesion , contact area , contact mechanics , nanoscopic scale , surface (topology) , normal force , finite element method , mechanics , composite material , mechanical engineering , structural engineering , nanotechnology , acoustics , engineering , physics , geometry , mathematics , gas compressor
Background: In the space environment, microgravity and vacuum influence the mechanicalbehaviors of the devices. In the microgravity environment, the mechanical components vibratewith a small amplitude once there is a disturbance. The vibration can be seen as a reciprocating slidingcontact with a small amplitude. In addition to the vibration, adhesion effects are predominant ina vacuum, which will induce a high friction force. Objective: To reduce the friction force, textured surfaces are widely used in mechanical engineeringon the earth, and nanoscale textures are also verified to be used to improve the frictional behaviorsof components in the size of nanometers. Methods: In this paper, the adhesion effects are considered by using molecular dynamics (MD)simulation, and the microgravity induced vibration is simplified as a reciprocating sliding contact.Coupling MD simulation and the finite element method which is a multiscale method are used toinvestigate the frictional properties of nanoscale reciprocating sliding contact between rigid multiasperitytips and an isosceles trapezoid textured surface. Results: Average friction forces for the different tips are presented, and the friction processes areanalyzed. A stable friction process is discovered for a specific case, and the average friction force iskept at two stable values corresponding to two sliding directions. Conclusion: Compared with the total average friction forces of a smooth surface, the textured surfacecan reduce the friction forces greatly. This work could contribute to the textured surface designto improve frictional properties in the space environment.