Abstract:
With the advancementsof micro/nano-scale technologies in recent years, contactmechanics is confronted with more and more challenges not only infundamental theories but also in mathematical methods. A review onrecent developments of the numerical methods is given formicro/nano-scale contact mechanics which plays a key role intribology. According to the development history of differentmethods and the length scale that the methods can deal with, thereare three kinds of numerical methods for solving micro/nano-scalecontact problems: (1) continuum methods, (2) molecular dynamicssimulations, and (3) multiscale methods. The classical theoriesand major procedures of these methods are presented, together withtheir applications to certain micro/nano-scale contact problems,such as adhesion, contacts of rough surface, surface friction andlubrication, thermal effect, bio-contacts and others. Finally,future development of the numerical methods for micro/nano-scalecontact mechanics and potential fields of applications areoutlined.