title: Atomistic insight into the minimum wear depth of Cu(111) surface.
abstract: In the present work, we investigate the minimum wear depth of single crystalline Cu(111) under single asperity friction by means of molecular dynamics simulations. The atomistic mechanisms governing the incipient plasticity are elucidated by characterizing specific defect structures and are correlated to the observed mechanical and frictional responses of the material. Furthermore, the effect of probe radius on the friction process is studied. Our simulations indicate that the formation of wear impression is closely associated with defect nucleation and the minimum wear depth is equivalent to the critical penetration depth at which plasticity initiates. It is found that the probe radius has a strong influence on the formation of defect structures and the observed mechanical responses.
authors.forename: Zengqiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yanhua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Center for Precision Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, People's Republic of China. zhjj505@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Junjie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yongda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sun