Classification of Nanotribological Phenomena by Indentation Depth at an Atomic–Scale

Abstract

To clarify the friction and wear mechanism of metal in their transition region at an atomic level, various molecular dynamics simulations have been performed. As a result, friction and wear process of copper by the hard particle were classified into four region as follows: (1) Friction process by atomic–scale stick–slip phenomenon, (2) Friction process with elastic deformation, (3) Wear process with ploughing due to removal of atoms, (4) Wear process with ploughing due to plastic deformation.