Surfaces’ laser texturing: morphological and mechanical analysis by indentation

Manufactured functional surfaces are complex and difficult to mechanically characterize.
Indentation test is a common technique to characterize surfaces, but it assumes a smooth and flat contact between the indenter and the surface. However, surface morphology is important for the functionality of the material.
Femtosecond laser texturing can be used to generate surfaces with controlled morphology and preserve the material state:
*A library of digital surfaces will be developed to define surfaces with particular functionalities.
*Mechanical testing will be conducted on surfaces to analyze the morphology and cross-impacts of material properties and ablation.
*The main mission of this proposal is to develop a better understanding of the mechanical behavior of manufactured surfaces.