BRIGE: Building the Foundation for Nanoscale Interface Design

该奖项的研究目标是开发和验证具有物理代表性的薄膜润滑分子模型。该项目成功的关键是将模型预测与通过与该领域专家合作获得的实验数据进行直接、定量的比较。模拟将利用先进的加速分子动力学技术来匹配相应实验的操作条件和材料特性。验证将通过比较速度、油膜厚度和摩擦力之间的预测关系和观测关系来执行。经过实验验证的模型将被用来对薄膜润滑行为以及这种行为如何受分子尺度事件的影响有新的认识。如果该项目成功，将为薄膜润滑界面的合理设计提供知识库。随着应用程序不断变得更小、更快，这样的界面正变得非常普遍。小型部件具有相应较小的润滑界面，其中的润滑现象仍未得到很好的理解。目前的项目将直接满足这一需求，从而为开发薄膜润滑界面的数值设计工具奠定基础。该项目的技术目标与其外展目标密切相关，通过重新定义外界对领域的看法，增加妇女对机械工程的参与。将用于开发实用设计工具的尖端分子规模模拟技术代表了一种新的机械工程概念，并通过提高妇女对该领域在新兴纳米技术设计和开发中所起的令人兴奋的作用的认识，支持她们更好地参与其中。

The research objective of this award is to develop and validate a physically representative molecular model of thin film lubrication. Key to the success of the project is direct, quantitative comparison of model predictions to experimental data obtained through collaboration with experts in the field. The simulation will take advantage of advanced, accelerated molecular dynamics techniques to match the operating conditions and materials properties of the corresponding experiments. The validation will be performed by comparing the predicted and observed relationships between speed, film thickness, and friction. The experimentally validated model will be used to gain new insight into the behavior of thin film lubrication and how this behavior is influenced by molecular-scale events.If successful, this project will provide a knowledge base for rational design of thin film lubricated interfaces. Such interfaces are becoming extremely common as applications continue to get smaller and faster. Small-scale components have correspondingly smaller lubricated interfaces where the lubrication phenomena are still not well understood. The current project will directly address this need thereby building the foundation for development of numerical design tools for thin film lubricated interfaces. The technical objective of the project is integrally related to its outreach goal, increasing participation of women in mechanical engineering by redefining the external perception of field. The cutting-edge, molecular-scale simulation technology that will be employed to develop a practical design tool is representative of a new concept of mechanical engineering, and supports improved participation of women by increasing their awareness of the exciting role this field is playing in design and development of emerging nanoscale technologies.