Lars Pastewka

Papers

Total Citations

140

H-Index

About

Lars Pastewka is a leading researcher in the field of tribology, with a particular focus on adhesion, friction, and surface roughness in soft and elastic materials. His work bridges fundamental physics with critical engineering applications, exploring how microscale surface properties govern macroscale mechanical behavior in systems ranging from tires and gaskets to soft robotics and biomaterials. Among his most influential contributions is his 2019 study on energy loss in soft adhesion, which has garnered 121 citations and offers a mechanistic framework for understanding why the apparent work of adhesion during contact is consistently lower than theoretical predictions — a longstanding puzzle in the field. Building on this foundation, his 2022 investigation into how surface roughness and elastic modulus jointly govern adhesive friction further advances the practical design of surfaces optimized for either grip or low energy loss. Pastewka's research carries significant real-world implications for industries concerned with energy efficiency, materials design, and biomedical engineering. His ability to connect nanoscale surface characterization with macroscopic tribological performance makes his work particularly valuable for engineers and physicists working at the frontier of contact mechanics and materials science.