# Effect of size distribution on the adhesion of nanoscale asperities

## TL;DR

This study investigates how the size distribution of nanoscale asperities influences adhesion in metal contacts, combining atomistic simulations with continuum models to optimize adhesion through curvature radius adjustments.

## Contribution

It introduces a novel approach linking nanoscale asperity size effects to macroscopic contact models, enabling adhesion optimization by adjusting asperity curvature distributions.

## Key findings

- Adhesion varies with asperity size distribution.
- Optimizing curvature radius distribution enhances adhesion.
- The combined atomistic and continuum approach effectively predicts adhesion behavior.

## Abstract

We study the effect of asperity size on the adhesion properties of metal contact using atomistic simulations. The simulated size effect of individual nanoscale asperityies is applied to macroscopic rough surfaces by introducing a curvature radius distribution to a continuum-mechanics-based contact model. Our results indicate that the contact adhesion can be optimized by changing the curvature radius distribution of the asperity summits.