Tribology in Full View

所提出的工作的主要重点是结合滑动表面的原位透射电子显微镜研究和基于材料科学的纳米级过程建模，这些过程发生在摩擦活性区域，主要使用基于位错的分析模型。实验工作的主要重点将是直接实时解决发生的过程，从位错运动和界面滑动到摩擦学诱导的化学或结构转变。这将利用电子显微镜成像的所有不同模式，从传统的低分辨率成像到电子能量损失光谱到原子尺度成像。分析部分的重点将是将传统材料科学思想（如屏障对位错运动的影响）与摩擦活性层中发生的情况结合起来，开发具有预测能力的无参数分析模型，以便将来用于估计新的摩擦学问题或系统中会发生什么。如果成功，这项工作将为摩擦活性区域的纳米级摩擦学过程奠定坚实的材料科学基础。此外，理论模型和预测分析模型可用于估计实际工程情况中的问题，从而导致合理的设计，以减少摩擦能量损失，提高机械系统在纳米尺度上的可靠性。在教育方面，这项研究将有助于支持当地高中生的推广，作为与Chute和Nichols中学以及埃文斯顿HANDS项目的现有项目的一部分，以及更多的国际推广工作，包括通过国际晶体学联盟在蒙古、卡塔尔和南非等地开办电子晶体学学校和研讨会。

The primary focus of the proposed work is a combination of in-situ transmission electron microscopy studies of sliding surfaces and materials-science based modelling of the nanoscale processes taking place in the triboactive region using primarily dislocation-based analytic models. The main focus of the experimental work will be to directly resolve in real time the processes taking place, ranging from the motion of dislocations and sliding of interfaces to tribologically induced chemical or structural transitions. This will exploit all the different modes of electron microscope imaging ranging from conventional low-resolution imaging through electron-energy loss spectroscopy to atomic scale imaging. The thrust of the analytical component will be to marry conventional materials science ideas such as the effect of barriers on dislocation motion with what is taking place in the triboactive layer, to develop parameter-free analytic models which have predictive power so can be used in the future to estimate what will be taking place in new tribological problems or systems.If successful, the work will establish a solid materials science foundation for tribological processes taking place at the nanoscale in the triboactive region. In addition, the theoretical models and the predictive analytical models can be then used to estimate issues in real engineering situations, leading to rational designs to reduce frictional energy losses and improve the reliability of mechanical systems at the nanoscale. In terms of education, the research will help support both local outreach to high-school students as part of the existing programs with Chute and Nichols Middle Schools and the HANDS program in Evanston, as well as more international outreach efforts involving efforts to run schools and workshops on electron crystallography in places such as Mongolia, Qatar and South Africa via the International Union of Crystallography.