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High-Speed Friction Measurements Using a Modified Surface Forces Apparatus

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Abstract

Methods of measuring friction forces in the surface forces apparatus (SFA) are presented for sliding velocities from <1 nm/s to >10 m/s. A feed-forward control (FFC) system for the piezoelectric bimorph slider attachment is introduced to allow experiments at velocities up to ~4 mm/s. For still higher speeds, a motor-driven rotating mini-disk setup using a pin-on-disk geometry is presented, with modifications to enable sliding velocities in the ranges 1 cm/s–5 m/s and 1–25 m/s. Example data sets demonstrate the applicability of the approach to modeling important tribological systems including hard-disk drives. We find that mechanical system parameters such as the resonant frequencies and mutual alignments of different moving parts become increasingly important in determining the tribological response at sliding velocities above ~1 cm/s (for SFA or bench top devices). Smooth or stick-slip sliding—common features of low-speed sliding—become replaced by large-amplitude oscillatory responses that depend on the load and especially the driving speed or rotational/reciprocating frequencies. Detailed recordings and modeling of these complex effects are necessary for fully understanding and controlling frictional behavior at high speeds.

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Acknowledgments

DOE grant number DE-FG02-87ER45331 for supporting KT, JHK, NB, YM, NSP, and JNI in the design and construction of the high-speed friction attachments, and General Motors Company for supporting DDL and XB in the design and construction of the high-speed friction attachments, and in the carrying out of the high-speed experiments with the cellulose friction surfaces. DDL acknowledges support from ICB.

Author information

Author notes

  1. K. Tasaka

    Present address: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Japan, Ltd., Fujisawa, Japan

  2. J. H. Kindt

    Present address: Nano Surfaces Business, Bruker, Dynamostr. 19, 68165, Mannheim, Germany

  3. Y. Min

    Present address: Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA

  4. N. S. Pesika

    Present address: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Materials Department, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, USA

    D. D. Lowrey

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, USA

    K. Tasaka, X. Banquy, N. Belman, Y. Min & N. S. Pesika

  3. Department of Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, USA

    J. H. Kindt

  4. General Motors Research & Development, 30500 Mound Road, Warren, MI, 48090-905, USA

    G. Mordukhovich

  5. Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Department, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, USA

    J. N. Israelachvili

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  1. D. D. Lowrey
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  2. K. Tasaka
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  5. N. Belman
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  9. J. N. Israelachvili
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Correspondence to J. N. Israelachvili.

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Lowrey, D.D., Tasaka, K., Kindt, J.H. et al. High-Speed Friction Measurements Using a Modified Surface Forces Apparatus. Tribol Lett 42, 117–127 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11249-011-9746-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11249-011-9746-1

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