VERIFICATION OF RABINOWICZ’ CRITERION BY DIRECT MOLECULAR DYNAMICS MODELING

Abstract

In the paper we use direct molecular dynamics modeling to validate the criterion for formation of wear debris proposed by E. Rabinowicz in 1958. A conventional molecular dynamics using a classical Tersoff’s potential was applied to simulate the sliding behavior within a thin film corresponding to a tribofilm formed from silica nano-particles in amorphous-like state. The simulation was carried out by varying the initial temperature and the spatial size of the simulated crystallite. The results show the change in sliding behavior of silica-based tribofilm depending on the temperature and the size parameter of the system under consideration. Thus increasing the temperature provides smooth sliding while at moderate conditions wear process can occur via debris formation. Our estimations show good correlation between predicted critical size of the simulated system and calculated energetic characteristics.