Statistical mechanics, friction applications

Micromechanical experiments made so far can be roughly divided into two parts (i) design of special techniques to measure and evaluate separately different contributions in the net force, such as adhesion, friction, deformation, and (ii) imaging of various heterogeneous surfaces such as blends, composites and microphase separated structures by conventional SFM s to collect statistical information and understand the origin of the mechanical contrast. Many of the micromechanical experiments were discussed elsewhere [58, 67, 68, 381, 412-414]. Here we will focus on recent advances in analytical applications of the active probe SFM. 

The above-mentioned complexity of the relationships between the structure and properties of textiles is further complicated by the non-linear mechanical properties of individual fibres caused by their visco-elastic behaviour, friction between fibres and threads, anisotropy, and statistical distribution of all properties. Modelling such complex materials requires application of a combination of experimental, analytical, and numerical methods, which will be considered in this chapter. 

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