Elastic Contact of Rough Surfaces Subject to Combined Force and Moment

Abstract

In this paper we consider the contact between two rectangular rough surfaces that provide normal and tangential contact forces, as well as contact moment, to counteract the net moment imposed by the applied forces. The surfaces are permitted to develop a slight angular misalignment, and thereby contact moment is derived. Through this scheme it is possible to also define elastic contribution to friction, since the half-plane tangential contact force on one side of an asperity is no longer balanced by the half-plane tangential force component on the opposite side. The elastic friction force, however, is shown to be of a much smaller order than the contact normal force.