Effects of pressure on friction characteristics of montmorillonite nanopores with various interlayer cations and surface charges

Friction characteristics are critical mechanical properties of clay, playing a pivotal role in the structural stability of cohesive soils. In this study, molecular dynamics simulations were employed to investigate the shear behavior of undrained montmorillonite (MMT) nanopores with varying surface charges and interlayer cations (Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺), subjected to different normal loads and sliding velocities. Consistent with previous findings, our results confirm that shear stress increases with normal load. However, the normal load-shear stress curves reveal two distinct linear regions, indicating segmented friction behavior. Remarkably, the friction coefficient declines sharply beyond a critical pressure point, ranging from 5 to 7.5 GPa, while cohesion follows an inverse trend. The elevated friction coefficient at lower pressures is attributed to the enhanced formation of hydrogen bonds and concomitant changes in density distribution. Furthermore, shear strength was observed to increase with sliding velocities, normal loads, and surface charges, with Na-MMT exhibiting superior shear strength compared to K-MMT and Ca-MMT. Interestingly, the friction coefficient shows a slight decrease with increasing surface charge, while ion type exerts a minimal effect. In contrast, cohesion is predominantly influenced by surface charge and remains largely unaffected by ion type, except under extreme pressures and velocities. © 2025 Elsevier B.V.