Nonlinear dynamics and the problem of slip at material interfaces

Abstract

The problem of dry friction between two metallic interfaces is discussed from the perspective of large scale molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. For flat interfaces between identical metals, two-dimensional MD simulations using embedded-atom-method potentials for copper have shown a variety of phenomena associated with a velocity weakening of the tangential force at high relative velocities (approaching significant fractions of the transverse sound speed). These include dislocation generation, dislocation motion both parallel and normal to the sliding interface, large plastic deformation, nucleation of microstructure, diffusive coarsening of microstructure, and material mixing. The early time behavior of a flat sliding interface is dominated by dislocation motion parallel to the interface. For this early stage, lower-dimensional models are useful in interpreting some of the simulation data. A two-chain forced Frenkel-Kontorova model reproduces some of the behavior of the larger scale simulations when the phenomenological damping is taken to be consistent with the MD simulations. This model exhibits four velocity regimes of steady state flow which will be discussed. Some of the implications for the nucleation of microstructure will be addressed.