Local contact formation during sliding on soft adhesive surfaces with complex microstructuring

Friction on biological-like micro-structured surfaces has been investigated. Using a bio-replication technique, complex surface morphologies found in plant leaves were transferred onto viscoelastic substrates. A nano-indenter was modified, permitting in-situ real contact junctions visualisation. Effects of applied normal load and sliding speed the friction response evaluated. All four demonstrated decrease coefficient (but dissimilar behaviors) with increasing load. In-situ videos revealed different formation under shearing, which originated from specific topographies. An increase rising out. This speed-dependent qualitatively correlated material loss factor incremental rates discussed light strain localisation confined