표면 에너지가 물 윤활 현상에 미치는 영향에 대한분자시뮬레이션 연구

Abstract

This paper presents a molecular dynamics simulation-based numerical investigation of the influence of surface energy on water lubrication. Models composed of a crystalline substrate, half cylindrical tip, and cluster of water molecules are prepared for a tribological-characteristic evaluation. To determine the effect of surface energy on lubrication, the surface energy between the substrate and water molecules as well as that between the tip and water molecules are controlled by changing the interatomic potential parameters. Simulations are conducted to investigate the indentation and sliding processes. Three different normal forces are applied to the system by controlling the indentation depth to examine the influence of normal force on the lubrication of the system. The simulation results reveal that the solid surface's surface energy and normal force significantly affect the behavior of the water molecules and lubrication characteristics. The lubrication characteristics of the water molecules deteriorate with the increasing magnitude of the normal force. At a low surface energy, the water molecules are readily squeezed out of the interface under a load, thus increasing the frictional force. Contrarily, a moderate surface energy prevents expulsion of the water molecules due to squeezing, resulting in a low frictional force. At a high surface energy, although squeezing of the water molecules is restricted, similar to the case of moderate surface energy, dragging occurs at the soil surface–water molecule interface, and the frictional force increases.