# GOALI: Friction as Anosov Flows on Hysteretic Manifolds

> **NSF 01002627DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT** · William Marsh Rice University (TX) · $718,336

## Abstract

Friction and wear consume 23 percent of the world's total energy supply. One potential mechanism to reduce this loss of energy is to build predictive design optimization models for  large structures with frictional interfaces (such as engines and aeroturbines), to allow new insight into the mechanisms of friction at interfaces. With a better understanding of the friction within jointed interfaces and how these interfaces transfer and dissipate energy, it would be possible to optimize design and significantly reduce the weight and emissions of aircraft, automobiles, and engines. One barrier to achieving this reduction is the lack of understanding of how friction behaves internally in a jointed structure. If a more accurate, predictive representation of friction within a jointed structure existed, then this would offer a new foundation to design more efficient structures, potentially saving more than $1 trillion annually and reducing annual emissions of carbon dioxide by more than 3 billion tons. This Grant Opportunity for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI) research project will address this challenge by creating a new mathematical understanding of friction. If successful, this will enable an order of magnitude reduction in computational time, making design optimization possible. Additionally, the experiments from this research will provide new insights into the fundamental physics of friction internal to jointed interfaces.

The primary scientific goal of this GOALI res

## Key facts

- **NSF award ID:** 2518127
- **Awardee organization:** William Marsh Rice University (TX)
- **SAM.gov UEI:** K51LECU1G8N3
- **PI:** Matthew R Brake
- **Primary program:** 01002627DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
- **All programs:** CONTROL SYSTEMS, Dynamical systems, RESEARCH EXP FOR UNDERGRADS, GRANT OPP FOR ACAD LIA W/INDUS, CONTROL SYSTEMS, Complex Systems, UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION, SUPPL FOR UNDERGRAD RES ASSIST, REU SUPP-Res Exp for Ugrd Supp
- **Estimated total:** $718,336
- **Funds obligated:** $728,336
- **Transaction type:** Standard Grant
- **Period:** 09/01/2025 → 08/31/2028

## Primary source

NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2518127

## Citation

> US National Science Foundation, Award 2518127, GOALI: Friction as Anosov Flows on Hysteretic Manifolds. Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-08 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nsf/2518127. Licensed CC0.

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