Date of Graduation

12-2015

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Degree Level

Undergraduate

Department

Mechanical Engineering

Advisor/Mentor

Spearot, Douglas E.

Committee Member/Reader

Zou, Min

Committee Member/Second Reader

Nair, Arun

Committee Member/Third Reader

Spearot, Douglas E.

Abstract

The aim of this honors research is to develop a force-controlled nanoindentation algorithm for molecular dynamics simulation. The algorithm was tested on Silicon using the Tersoff potential and Gold using the Embedded-Atom Method (EAM) potential. The effect of varying the damping parameters that adjust the system pressure and changing run length between force iterations is explored. The force-controlled algorithm was developed and shown to be working by correlating pop-in events shown in the force versus displacement (P-h) curves to visualization software showing phase transformation or dislocation events in the sample.

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