Dr. Changdong Yeo received funding from the Department of Energy (DOE)-Sandia National Laboratory for research on multi-physics and multi-scale modeling of electrical contact resistance (ECR).

Dr. Changdong Yeo received a $85,000 grant from the Department of Energy (DOE)-Sandia National Laboratory for research on multi-physics and multi-scale modeling of electrical contact resistance (ECR). Modern systems (e.g., electric vehicles, airplanes, spacecrafts, and missile/rockets) typically contain thousands of electrical connectors. An inherent requirement in the design of circuits is the ability to maintain electrical continuity, which relies on the electromechanical features as found in various types of electrical connectors.

Under structural vibration and chattering, the ECR of contacting electrodes can surge such that electrical energy cannot be adequately transferred, thereby leading to critical system failures. Dr. Yeo's group and Sandia National Laboratory team investigate the influences of structural dynamics and metal oxides of a pin-receptacle on its ECR using analytical modeling and computational simulation.

The research outcome can deliver the key design rules for electrical connectors in terms of material selection, surface properties, allowable operating parameters, and structural properties, which contribute to achieving long-term reliability for these systems without ohmic loss and material degradation.