A model for micro-slip between flat surfaces based on deformation of ellipsoidal elastic bodies

Micro-slip is a phenomenon that occurs between contacting surfaces when a frictional load, less than that necessary to produce macro-slip, is applied to the contacting surfaces. A model is presented for micro-slip between a flat smooth surface and a flat rough surface. The rough surface is covered with uniformly distributed ellipsoidal elastic bodies. The results from two test cases show that anisotropy of the contacting surfaces influences the tangential stiffness at zero displacement, the length of the micro-slip zone and the energy dissipated in the contact.