Optimised Bonded Interfaces Utilising Nano and Micro-Structured Surfaces

Bonded interfaces are ubiquitous across the engineering world and appear whenever components or structural members are joined together using an adhesive. The surfaces at these interfaces are generally random rough surfaces produced by conventional techniques such as grinding. These interfaces tend to have unpredictable, unrepeatable and suboptimal properties. This project will examine the potential of non-random nano and micro structured surfaces to realise tailored, repeatable and optimised interface properties. For bonded interfaces, nano and micro surface structuring opens up possibilities for stronger, tougher joints by taking advantage of interlocking nano or micro scale features. If successful, the project will result in a suite of new possibilities for designing bonded interfaces with tailored, repeatable and optimised properties and will have widespread applications from aero-engine design to micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMs).


To achieve these aims, an interdisciplinary approach is required; therefore, the project merges the mechanical engineering field of materials engineering with nanofabrication which has traditionally been the preserve of electronic and computer engineering. Dr Daniel Mulvihill will lead the materials engineering aspects, while Prof Nikolaj Gadegaard will lead the nanofabrication tasks. A crucial advantage of the project will be its use of the James Watt Nanofabrication Centre (JWNC) at Glasgow. This will allow a sound mechanics based approach to be augmented by highly advanced facilities for surface nanofabrication, surface metrology and surface chemistry modification. Methodology will be divided between fabrication, testing and modelling. The fabrication component will involve the manufacture of a range of nano and micro-structured surfaces using advanced lithography techniques at the JWNC. Following fabrication, a program of testing and modelling will be carried out to probe the underlying mechanical behaviour of the interfaces. This phase of the project will involve designing and realising suitable mechanical experiments to draw out the essential mechanical behaviour of the bonded joints. Finally, the project will draw upon available methods in solid mechanics and computational mechanics to help understand and model the physically observed behaviour.