ABSTRACT
In this and the next chapter, we shall discuss the effect of loading rate on the nanoscale Contact resistance of glass. Glass is a classical example of a brittle solid and, hence, has been used in many research studies over centuries. The loading rate is nothing but the rate at which the contact happens. Thus, basically it relates to the process of energy transfer between the loading train and the material in question. Glass as an amorphous solid offers a simple means to look at different scales of deformation when the contact loads are varied, for instance from a few newtons of force to a few millinewtons of force to a few micronewtons of force applied on the indenter. In other words, the indentation technique in general, and the nanoindentation technique in particular, provides an opportunity to study the scale issues in deformation and fracture in a controlled manner. It also follows, then, that by proper choice of appropriate load scales, the corresponding microstructural length scale issues or issues involving more than one microstructural length scale can be addressed.
