Showing papers on "Contact area published in 2005"

On the nature of surface roughness with application to contact mechanics, sealing, rubber friction and adhesion.

Abstract: Surface roughness has a huge impact on many important phenomena. The most important property of rough surfaces is the surface roughness power spectrum C(q). We present surface roughness power spectra of many surfaces of practical importance, obtained from the surface height profile measured using optical methods and the atomic force microscope. We show how the power spectrum determines the contact area between two solids. We also present applications to sealing, rubber friction and adhesion for rough surfaces, where the power spectrum enters as an important input.

The breakdown of continuum models for mechanical contacts

Abstract: Forces acting within the area of atomic contact between surfaces play a central role in friction and adhesion. Such forces are traditionally calculated using continuum contact mechanics, which is known to break down as the contact radius approaches atomic dimensions. Yet contact mechanics is being applied at ever smaller lengths, driven by interest in shrinking devices to nanometre scales, creating nanostructured materials with optimized mechanical properties, and understanding the molecular origins of macroscopic friction and adhesion. Here we use molecular simulations to test the limits of contact mechanics under ideal conditions. Our findings indicate that atomic discreteness within the bulk of the solids does not have a significant effect, but that the atomic-scale surface roughness that is always produced by discrete atoms leads to dramatic deviations from continuum theory. Contact areas and stresses may be changed by a factor of two, whereas friction and lateral contact stiffness change by an order of magnitude. These variations are likely to affect continuum predictions for many macroscopic rough surfaces, where studies show that the total contact area is broken up into many separate regions with very small mean radius.

A Finite Element Study of Elasto-Plastic Hemispherical Contact Against a Rigid Flat

Abstract: This work presents a finite element study of elasto-plastic hemispherical contact. The results are normalized such that they are valid for macro contacts (e.g., rolling element bearings) and micro contacts (e.g., asperity contact), although micro-scale surface characteristics such as grain boundaries are not considered. The material is modeled as elastic-perfectly plastic. The numerical results are compared to other existing models of spherical contact, including the fully plastic truncation model (often attributed to Abbott and Firestone) and the perfectly elastic case (known as the Hertz contact). This work finds that the fully plastic average contact pressure, or hardness, commonly approximated to be a constant factor of about three times the yield strength, actually varies with the deformed contact geometry, which in turn is dependent upon the material properties (e.g., yield strength). The current work expands on previous works by including these effects and explaining them theoretically. Experimental and analytical results have also been shown to compare well with the current work. The results are fit by empirical formulations for a wide range of interferences (displacements which cause normal contact between the sphere and rigid flat) and materials for use in other applications.

The role of van der Waals forces in adhesion of micromachined surfaces

Abstract: Interfacial adhesion and friction are important factors in determining the performance and reliability of microelectro- mechanical systems. We demonstrate that the adhesion of micromachined surfaces is in a regime not considered by standard rough surface adhesion models. At small roughness values, our experiments and models show unambiguously that the adhesion is mainly due to van der Waals dispersion forces acting across extensive non-contacting areas and that it is related to 1/Dave2, where Dave is the average surface separation. These contributions must be considered because of the close proximity of the surfaces, which is a result of the planar deposition technology. At large roughness values, van der Waals forces at contacting asperities become the dominating contributor to the adhesion. In this regime our model calculations converge with standard models in which the real contact area determines the adhesion. We further suggest that topographic correlations between the upper and lower surfaces must be considered to understand adhesion completely.

Finite element modeling of elasto-plastic contact between rough surfaces

Abstract: This paper presents a finite element calculation of frictionless, non-adhesive, contact between a rigid plane and an clasto-plastic solid with a self-affine fractal surface. The calculations are conducted within an explicit dynamic Lagrangian framework. The elastoplastic response of the material is described by a J(2) isotropic plasticity law. Parametric studies are used to establish general relations between contact properties and key material parameters. In all cases, the contact area A rises linearly with the applied load. The rate of increase grows as the yield stress sigma(y) decreases, scaling as a power of sigma(y) over the range typical of real materials. Results for A from different plasticity laws and surface morphologies can all be described by a simple scaling formula. Plasticity produces qualitative changes in the distributions of local pressures in the contact and of the size of connected contact regions. The probability of large local pressures is decreased, while large clusters become more likely. Loading-unloading cycles are considered and the total plastic work is found to be nearly constant over a wide range of yield stresses. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Highly reliable 50nm contact cell technology for 256Mb PRAM

Abstract: Novel small contact fabrication technologies were proposed to realize reliable high density 256Mb PRAM(phase change memory) product. Introducing the 2-step CMP (chemical mechanical polishing) process and the ring-shaped contact structure, the contact area distribution was greatly improved even at the smallest contact diameter of 50nm node. The validity of this approach was directly confirmed by the evaluation of the functionality for the fabricated 256Mbit PRAM based on 0.10/spl mu/m CMOS technology.

Effective slip on textured superhydrophobic surfaces

Abstract: We study fluid flow in the vicinity of textured and superhydrophobically coated surfaces with characteristic texture sizes on the order of 10μm. Both for droplets moving down an inclined surface and for an external flow near the surface (hydrofoil), there is evidence of appreciable drag reduction in the presence of surface texture combined with superhydrophobic coating. On textured inclined surfaces, the drops roll faster than on a coated untextured surface at the same angle. The highest drop velocities are achieved on surfaces with irregular textures with characteristic feature size ∼8μm. Application of the same texture and coating to the surface of a hydrofoil in a water tunnel results in drag reduction on the order of 10% or higher. This behavior is explained by the reduction of the contact area between the surface and the fluid, which can be interpreted in terms of changing the macroscopic boundary condition to allow nonzero slip velocity.

Frictionless 2D Contact formulations for finite deformations based on the mortar method

Abstract: In this paper two different finite element formulations for frictionless large deformation contact problems with non-matching meshes are presented. Both are based on the mortar method. The first formulation introduces the contact constraints via Lagrange multipliers, the other employs the penalty method. Both formulations differ in size and the way of fulfilling the contact constraints, thus different strategies to determine the permanently changing contact area are required. Starting from the contact potential energy, the variational formulation, the linearization and finally the matrix formulation of both methods are derived. In combination with different contact detection methods the global solution algorithm is applied to different two-dimensional examples.

Measurement and Modeling of Normal Contact Stiffness and Contact Damping at the Meso Scale

Abstract: Modeling of contact inteffaces that inherently include roughness such as joints, clamping devices, and robotic contacts, is very important in many engineering applications. Accurate modeling of such devices requires knowledge of contact parameters such as contact stiffness and contact damping, which are not readily available. In this paper, an experimental method based on contact resonance is developed to extract the contact parameters of realistic rough surfaces under lightly loaded conditions. Both Hertzian spherical contacts and flat rough surfaces in contact under normal loads of up to 1000 mN were studied. Due to roughness, measured contact stiffness values are significantly lower than theoretical values predicted from smooth surfaces in contact. Also, the measured values favorably compare with theoretical values based on both Hertzian and rough contact surfaces. Contact damping ratio values were found to decrease with increasing contact load for both Hertzian and flat surfaces. Furthermore, Hertzian contacts have larger damping compared to rough flat surfaces, which also agrees with the literature. The presence of minute amount of lubricant and wear debris at the interface was also investigated. It was found that both lubricant and wear debris decrease the contact stiffness significantly though only the lubricant significantly increases the damping.

Contact Area, Contact Pressure, and Pressure Patterns of the Tendon-Bone Interface After Rotator Cuff Repair

Abstract: BackgroundThe contact pressure and contact area at the tendon-bone interface after the most commonly used rotator cuff repair methods have not been investigated.HypothesisThere are no significant differences among the transosseous, the single-row suture anchor, and the double-row suture anchor techniques in terms of contact pressure, contact area, and pressure patterns at the tendon-bone interface.Study DesignControlled laboratory study.MethodsAfter creating a full-thickness supraspinatus tendon tear in 10 cadaveric shoulder specimens, we inserted pressure-sensitive film between the tendon stump and the bone, and we repaired the tear by (1) transosseous, (2) single-row suture anchor, and (3) double-row suture anchor techniques.ResultsThe contact area of the double-row technique was 42% greater than that of the transosseous technique (P <. 0001) and 60% greater than that of the single-row technique. The contact area of the transosseous technique was 31% greater than that of the single-row technique (P =. 0...

Liquid crystal display panel and method of fabricating the same

Abstract: This invention relates to a liquid crystal display panel, including: a first substrate having a common electrode; a second substrate including a pixel electrode that forms an electric field with the common electrode, a thin film transistor connected to the pixel electrode, a signal line that applies a signal to the thin film transistor, and a contact area in an area outside an area where the signal line is, and the contact area applies a common voltage to the common electrode; and a sealant formed between the first and second substrates with a conductive spacer that connects the contact area with the common electrode.

Sublithographic contact structure, phase change memory cell with optimized heater shape, and manufacturing method thereof

Abstract: An electronic semiconductor device has a sublithographic contact area between a first conductive region and a second conductive region. The first conductive region is cup-shaped and has vertical walls which extend, in top plan view, along a closed line of elongated shape. One of the walls of the first conductive region forms a first thin portion and has a first dimension in a first direction. The second conductive region has a second thin portion having a second sublithographic dimension in a second direction transverse to the first dimension. The first and the second conductive regions are in direct electrical contact at their thin portions and form the sublithographic contact area. The elongated shape is chosen between rectangular and oval elongated in the first direction. Thereby, the dimensions of the contact area remain approximately constant even in presence of a small misalignment between the masks defining the conductive regions.

Characterizing energy dissipation in single-walled carbon nanotube polycarbonate composites

Abstract: In this study, single-walled carbon nanotube and bisphenol-A-polycarbonate composite beams were fabricated by a solution mixing process and dynamic (cyclic) load tests were performed to characterize energy dissipation. We report up to an order of magnitude (>1000%) increase in loss modulus of the polycarbonate system with the addition of 2% weight fraction of oxidized single-walled nanotube fillers. We show that the increase in damping is derived from frictional sliding at the nanotube-polymer interfaces. The nanoscale dimensions of the tubes not only result in large interfacial contact area, thereby generating high damping efficiency, but also enable seamless integration of the filler materials into the composite structure.

Conducting structure and electronic clinical thermometer embodying the structure

Abstract: A conducting structure and an electronic clinical thermometer, wherein the conducting structure is provided on the measuring end of the clinical thermometer, and the measuring end has a recess, a temperature sensor and conducting wires fitted in the recess, and a contact member having a curved top and made of metallic conductive material and having a predetermined length embedded in the recess thereby providing the contact member with a large temperature sensing contact area but only with a small portion protruded out of the measuring end, and therefore enabling the thermometer to be fully in contact with a certain portion of the human body such as the armpit, preventing the thermometer from being broken, and achieving heat balance rapidly. The measuring end of the thermometer may be bent at a predetermined angle or the contact member may be arranged at either side of the measuring end as required.

Adhesion of echinoderm tube feet to rough surfaces

Abstract: Echinoderms attach strongly and temporarily to the substratum by means of specialized organs, the podia or tube feet. The latter consist of a basal extensible cylinder, the stem, which bears an apical flattened disc. The disc repeatedly attaches to and detaches from the substratum through adhesive and de-adhesive secretions. In their activities, echinoderms have to cope with substrata of varying degrees of roughness as well as with changing hydrodynamic conditions, and therefore their tube feet must adapt their attachment strength to these environmental constraints. This study is the first attempt to evaluate the influence of substratum roughness on the temporary adhesion of echinoderm tube feet and to investigate the material properties of their contact surface. It was demonstrated that tube foot discs are very soft (E-modulus of 6.0 and 8.1 kPa for sea stars and sea urchins, respectively), have viscoelastic properties and adapt their surface to the substratum profile. They also show increased adhesion on a rough substratum in comparison to its smooth counterpart, which is due mostly to an increase in the geometrical area of contact between the disc and the surface. Tenacity (force per unit area) increases with roughness [e.g. 0.18 and 0.34 MPa on smooth polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA), 0.21 and 0.47 MPa on rough PMMA for sea stars and sea urchins, respectively] if only the projected surface area of the adhesive footprint is considered. However, if this tenacity is corrected to take into account the actual substratum 3-D profile, surface roughness no longer influences significantly the corrected adhesion strength (e.g. 0.18 and 0.34 MPa on smooth PMMA, 0.19 and 0.42 MPa on rough PMMA for sea stars and sea urchins, respectively). It can be hypothesized that, under slow self-imposed forces, disc material behaves viscously to adapt to substratum roughness while the adhesive fills out only very small surface irregularities (in the nanometer range). It is deposited as a thin film ideal for generation of strong adhesion. Under short pulses of wave-generated forces, attached discs probably behave elastically, distributing the stress along the entire contact area, in order to avoid crack generation and thus precluding disc peeling and tube foot detachment.

Comparison of Deformable and Elastic Foundation Finite Element Simulations for Predicting Knee Replacement Mechanics

Abstract: Rigid body total knee replacement (TKR) models with tibiofemoral contact based on elastic foundation (EF) theory utilize simple contact pressure-surface overclosure relationships to estimate joint mechanics, and require significantly less computational time than corresponding deformable finite element (FE) methods. However, potential differences in predicted kinematics between these representations are currently not well understood, and it is unclear if the estimates of contact area and pressure are acceptable. Therefore, the objectives of the current study were to develop rigid EF and deformable FE models of tibiofemoral contact, and to compare predicted kinematics and contact mechanics from both representations during gait loading conditions with three different implant designs. Linear and nonlinear contact pressure-surface overclosure relationships based on polyethylene material properties were developed using EF theory. All other variables being equal, rigid body FE models accurately estimated kinematics predicted by fully deformable FE models and required only 2% of the analysis time. As expected, the linear EF contact model sufficiently approximated trends for peak contact pressures, but overestimated the deformable results by up to 30%. The nonlinear EF contact model more accurately reproduced trends and magnitudes of the deformable analysis, with maximum differences of approximately 15% at the peak pressures during the gait cycle. All contact area predictions agreed in trend and magnitude. Using rigid models, edge-loading conditions resulted in substantial overestimation of peak pressure. Optimal nonlinear EF contact relationships were developed for specific TKR designs for use in parametric or repetitive analyses where computational time is paramount. The explicit FE analysis method utilized here provides a unique approach in that both rigid and deformable analyses can be run from the same input file, thus enabling simple selection of the most appropriate representation for the analysis of interest.

Effects of Damping and Varying Contact Area at Blade-Disk Joints in Forced Response Analysis of Bladed Disk Assemblies

Abstract: An approach is developed to analyze the multiharmonic forced response of large-scale finite element models of bladed disks taking account of the nonlinear forces acting at the contact interfaces of blade roots. Area contact interaction is modeled by area friction contact elements which allow for friction stresses under variable normal load, unilateral contacts, clearances, and interferences. Examples of application of the new approach to the analysis of root damping and forced response levels are given and numerical investigations of effects of contact conditions at root joints and excitation levels are explored for practical bladed disks.

Absence of one-to-one correspondence between elastoplastic properties and sharp-indentation load penetration data

Abstract: The connection between parameters that can be measured by means of instrumented indentation with the real mechanical properties has been a matter of discussion for several years. In fact, even hardness is not a readily measurable magnitude since the real contact area depends on both the elastic and plastic properties of the sample. Recently, Dao et al. [ Acta Mater49, 3899 (2001)] proposed a method based on numerical fittings to calculate by a forward-reverse algorithm the elastoplastic properties of a sample from the load-penetration curve obtained with a sharp indenter. This work will show, in contrast, that it is not possible to measure uniquely these mechanical properties of a sample in that way.

A Finite Element Study of the Residual Stress and Deformation in Hemispherical Contacts

Abstract: This work presents a finite element model (FEM) of the residual stresses and strains that are formed after an elastoplastic hemispherical contact is unloaded. The material is modeled as elastic perfectly plastic and follows the von Mises yield criterion. The FEM produces contours for the normalized axial and radial displacements as functions of the removed interference depth and location on the surface of the hemisphere. Contour plots of the von Mises stress and other stress components are also presented to show the formation of the residual stress distribution with increasing plastic deformation. This work shows that high residual von Mises stresses appear in the material pileup near the edge of the contact area after complete unloading. Values are defined for the minimum normalized interference, that when removed, results in plastic residual stresses. This work also defines an interference at which the maximum residual stress transitions from a location below the contact region and along the axis of symmetry to one near to the surface at the edge of the contact radius (within the pileup).

Changes in Asphalt Pavement Friction Components and Adjustment of Skid Number for Temperature

Abstract: The results of a study aimed at investigating the effects of temperature and surface texture on the friction force developed at the tire–pavement interface during skidding are presented. Ten field sites representing a variety of asphalt pavements in the State of Ohio were selected for the study. Five laboratory briquettes made from the same materials used in the construction of the pavements were prepared for each of the sites. Skid resistance measurements were performed on the briquettes using a portable British pendulum tester. The friction force was considered to consist of two parts, namely, the wet adhesion and the hysteresis components. The adhesion and hysteresis components were measured separately using water and liquid hand soap as lubricants. To simulate the changes due to wear and aging of pavements, several cycles of mechanical polishing were conducted and the available contact area after polishing was determined using a digital image processing technique. Tests were conducted at five differen...

Method to account for true contact area in soda-lime glass during nanoindentation with the Berkovich tip

Abstract: An empirical relationship for estimating the pile-up contact area from the contact stiffness, S and the contact depth, hc, has been developed. This was achieved first by using the atomic force microscope to image nanoindents made with the Berkovich indenter in soda-lime glass and approximating the pile-up contact perimeter as a semi-ellipse. Then, by determining the pile-up contact area for several peak indentation loads, a correlation was found between the pile-up contact area and the load used to generate it. The importance of this new method of determining the pile-up contact area is that the need for indent imaging is made completely redundant, since the contact stiffness is a quantity that is routinely obtained during nanoindentation data analysis. Elastic modulus of soda-lime glass of 70 ± 1.5 GPa is measured with loads ranging from 20 to 500 mN. The hardness measured also falls within the range of values, 5.2–5.9 GPa, normally quoted in the literature for the glass.

Contact-area dependence of frictional forces: Moving adsorbed antimony nanoparticles

Abstract: Antimony nanoparticles grown on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite and molybdenum disulfide were used as a model system to investigate the contact-area dependence of frictional forces. This system allows one to accurately determine both the interface structure and the effective contact area. Controlled translation of the antimony nanoparticles (areas between 10 000 and $110\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}000\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{nm}}^{2}$) was induced by the action of the oscillating tip in a dynamic force microscope. During manipulation, the power dissipated due to tip-sample interactions was recorded. We found that the threshold value of the power dissipation needed for translation depends linearly on the contact area between the antimony particles and the substrate. Assuming a linear relationship between dissipated power and frictional forces implies a direct proportionality between friction and contact area. Particles about $10\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}000\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{nm}}^{2}$ in size, however, were found to show dissipation close to zero. To explain the observed behavior, we suggest that structural lubricity might be the reason for the low dissipation in the small particles, while elastic multistabilities might dominate energy dissipation in the larger particles.