Design of systems with controlled friction and adhesion by varying the contact geometry

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Iakov Lyashenko
• Subject Area: Mechanics
• Term: since 2026
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 574599951

The design and manufacturing of surfaces with specified frictional and adhesive properties is an interesting challenge in modern tribology, with many potential applications in practical engineering. Through our preliminary work on adhesive frictional contacts, we have already identified promising mechanisms and parameters for the design of such functional surfaces. In the present project, these ideas will be developed into a comprehensive design methodology, which will be validated experimentally and numerically. Among other things, asymmetric indenters with different friction coefficients depending on the direction of movement will be investigated. Transition regimes after changing the direction of shear or changes of external load, as well as the overall kinetics of friction and adhesion forces, will be investigated as well. Experimental results will be interpreted with the help of numerical simulations (boundary element method, method of dimensionality reduction, method of moving cellular automata) and hybrid phenomenological models will be developed. We expect that a numerical method can be developed which allows predicting the friction law and the adhesive strength for a given geometry of the contact surfaces.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants