Quantum Contact Mechanics for Holistic Surface Optimization

Optimization tools for improved protective coatings do not only require a comprehensive mechanical contact model but also need to account for the principle uncertainties residing in the field.

It will been shown that the classical continuum mechanical and thus, naturally deterministic, concepts are not adequate if one intends to holistically describe the uncertainties coming into play with applications connected with tribological processes like erosion, fretting, wear etc.. This also and especially holds in the case of bio-applications as the living systems provide a kind of natural, omnipresent and very dominant uncertainty.

By incorporating quantum mechanical concepts via a principle scale dependent accessibility with respect to input parameters from measurement, surface roughness or even non-continuous composition, one does not only overcome such flaws in the classical approaches but also automatically incorporates a method to observe and actively control the influence of the uncertainty budget [1].

According to the classical quantum mechanics, the uncertainty is been accounted for by a “Planck” constant, only that this time, depending on the dimension of the problem, we end up with Planck-vectors or tensors instead of the classical scalar.

The way to go is cumbersome at the beginning, because it requires the principle quantization of the line element of a general continuous space, but the outcome is a very compact, rather general and powerful tool to handle practical applications.

As a byproduct, so it seems, also the quantization of the Einstein field equations can be achieved [2].

[1]          N. Schwarzer: „Quantum Tribology – Part I: Theory“, www.amazon.com/dp/B01CI4BI2E

[2]          N. Schwarzer: „Recipe to Quantize the General Theory of Relativity“, www.amazon.com/dp/B01LX664IF