Description of the thesis topic

The increasing miniaturization of many technological devices is accompanied by an increased surface area-to-volume ratio. Under these conditions, designing of moving parts requires accurate control of surface forces (e.g. friction and adhesion) to achieve precise positioning and proper lifetime. However, traditional tribological solutions (e.g. lubrication) may prove ineffective at nanometric scales or in biomedical applications, calling for original and reliable methods of control of friction and adhesion. The main objective of the project is to evaluate the influence of externally imposed in-plane transversal oscillations on the forward relative motion between two surfaces in contact, to develop novel strategies for controlling friction in mechanical devices. Experimental studies from nanometric to millimetric scales will be conducted to evaluate the potential of using low amplitude vibrations to facilitate the motion of surfaces in contact (from single to multiple asperity contacts) and its influence on wear and adhesion.

Work Context

The thesis will be carried out in the team Soft Matter: Structure and Dynamics, at the Paul-Pascal Research Center, a laboratory affiliated to the CNRS and the University of Bordeaux. The laboratory is located in Pessac and is recognized for the study of complex systems in soft matter, functional materials and biotechnologies. The successful candidate will be supervised by Carlos Drummond and Jean Christophe Loudet. The work will be part of a project funded by the French National Research Agency (ANR). The thesis will involve continuous collaboration with all members of the team.

The position is located in a sector under the protection of scientific and technical potential (PPST), and therefore requires, in accordance with the regulations, that your arrival is authorized by the competent authority of the MESR.

Additional Information

The candidate must hold a master's degree in physics, chemistry or equivalent, and be interested in a multidisciplinary approach mixing physics, chemistry and engineering. Ideally, the candidate has experience in experimental soft matter physics, modeling and numerical computation. The candidate must have good oral and written skills in scientific English and must be able to work in a team.