Adhesive wear with a coarse-grained discrete element model

The use of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations has led to promising results unravel the atomistic origins adhesive wear, and in particular for onset wear at nanoscale surface asperities. However, MD come with a high computational cost offer access only narrow window time length scales. We propose here resort discrete element method (DEM) mitigate cost. Using DEM particles contact cohesive forces, we reproduce key mechanisms observed MD, while having particle diameters system sizes an order magnitude higher than MD. pairwise forces are tuned obtain solid reasonably approximated elastic fracture properties. single asperity performed successfully reproduced using range sizes, validating coarse-graining procedure. More complex should allow study evolution worn surfaces context, reaching scales inaccessible