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Influence of frozen capillary waves on contact mechanics

B. N. J. Persson
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Abstract

Free surfaces of liquids exhibit thermally excited (capillary) surface waves. We show that the surface roughness which results from capillary waves when a glassy material is cooled below the glass transition temperature can have a large influence on the contact mechanics between the solids. The theory suggest a new explanation for puzzling experimental results [L. Bureau, T. Baumberger and C. Caroli, arXiv:cond-mat/0510232] about the dependence of the frictional shear stress on the load for contact between a glassy polymer lens and flat substrates. It also lend support for a recently developed contact mechanics theory.

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B. N. J. Persson. 2005-12-23. Influence of frozen capillary waves on contact mechanics. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wear.2006.10.028

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