Role of friction-induced torque in stick-slip motion

Julien Scheibert (1) , Dag Kristian Dysthe (1)

1 PGP - Physics of Geological Processes [Oslo]

We present a minimal quasistatic 1D model describing the kinematics of the transition from static friction to stick-slip motion of a linear elastic block on a rigid plane. We show how the kinematics of both the precursors to frictional sliding and the periodic stick-slip motion are controlled by the amount of friction-induced torque at the interface. Our model provides a general framework to understand and relate a series of recent experimental observations, in particular the nucleation location of micro-slip instabilities and the build up of an asymmetric field of real contact area.

Mots clés: static friction; kinetic friction; transition; stick-slip; precursors to sliding; torque; micro-slip; pressure asymmetry

Domaines: Mécanique des solides [physics.class-ph]; Mécanique des solides [physics.class-ph]; Matière Molle [cond-mat.soft]

Julien Scheibert, Dag Kristian Dysthe. Role of friction-induced torque in stick-slip motion. EPL - Europhysics Letters, 2010, 92, pp.54001. ⟨10.1209/0295-5075/92/54001⟩. ⟨hal-00489886v2⟩