A model for micro-slip between flat surfaces based on deformation of ellipsoidal elastic asperities—parametric study and experimental investigation

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 evaluated for micro-slip between a flat smooth surface and a flat rough surface. The rough surface is covered with uniformly distributed ellipsoidal elastic asperities. The results from simulations of the model show that anisotropy, material combination and number of contacts of the contacting surfaces influence the tangential stiffness at zero displacement, the length of the micro-slip zone and the energy dissipated in the contact. An experimental investigation verifies the results computed by the model.