Slippery but Tough: The Rapid Fracture of Lubricated Frictional Interfaces

E. Bayart, I. Svetlizky, J. Fineberg

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

33 Scopus citations

Abstract

We study the onset of friction for rough contacting blocks whose interface is coated with a thin lubrication layer. High speed measurements of the real contact area and stress fields near the interface reveal that propagating shear cracks mediate lubricated frictional motion. While lubricants reduce interface resistances, surprisingly they significantly increase the energy dissipated Γ during rupture. Moreover, lubricant viscosity affects the onset of friction but has no effect on Γ. Fracture mechanics provide a new way to view the otherwise hidden complex dynamics of the lubrication layer.

Original languageEnglish
Article number194301
JournalPhysical Review Letters
Volume116
Issue number19
DOIs
StatePublished - 10 May 2016

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 American Physical Society.

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